Sicily digital artisan businesses grow despite AI skills gap

Digital artisan businesses in Sicily have grown by 8.9% compared to the first quarter of 2020, according to data from the Confartigianato MPI Observatory. As of the first quarter of 2025, there are 936 digital artisan enterprises operating in the region, signaling a shift toward technological business models.

However, the sector faces a significant skills gap. Approximately 43.8% of Sicilian businesses report that their projected growth requires advanced digital skills and expertise in Artificial Intelligence, yet they struggle to find qualified candidates. This shortage is particularly acute in the province of Trapani, where the inability to find suitable digital profiles reaches 51.4%, significantly higher than the regional average.

Emanuele Virzì, president of Confartigianato Imprese Sicilia, noted that while the sector is dynamic and capable of leveraging innovation, the difficulty in finding prepared professionals could hinder the development of micro and small enterprises. He emphasized the need to accelerate training and local dialogue to ensure businesses remain competitive.