Veneto reports modest employment gains and seeks generational renewal in its businesses

In the first quarter of 2026, the Veneto region recorded about 2.2 million employed people, with the unemployment rate holding at 3.1% and the overall employment rate at 60.2% (53.3% for women). Hiring rose 4% while separations increased 5%, mainly involving short‑term contracts. The employment balance remained positive at +26,900 jobs, with the services sector adding the most jobs (+15,300), driven by an early‑start tourism season, while industry and agriculture saw slower increases.

At the same time, the average age of business leaders in Veneto is climbing. The number of executives over 70 rose 26% from 2015 to 2025, reaching 88,554. Female‑owned firms number 93,669, representing 20.6% of all companies but still below the national average and down 1.05% from the previous year. The regional CNA association has called for a territorial task force, regional funding such as the “Fondo Staffetta,” and stronger coordination among entrepreneurs, municipalities and institutions to foster youth, women and foreign entrepreneurship and reverse the ageing trend.