# Italian labor market trends and regional disparities > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-labor-market-trends-and-regional-disparities > Updated: 2026-08-12T15:22:38.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. The Italian labor market continues to exhibit growth alongside persistent structural imbalances. While the executive market reached a record high of 134,000 private-sector managers in 2025, Italy maintains a lower manager-to-employee ratio than neighbors such as France and Germany. Recent data from 2023 to 2026 indicates that Italy has experienced record employment growth, specifically characterized by increased stability through permanent contracts within the manufacturing and construction sectors. Despite this growth, a significant mismatch between education and industry needs persists. Companies report a substantial shortage of technical and engineering profiles, with nearly half of sought-after positions remaining unfilled. Regional disparities remain a defining feature of the landscape. The Marche region continues to maintain employment rates above the national average. Conversely, other areas such as Rieti are experiencing declining employment levels and a sharp decrease in highly qualified young residents. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-12: European labor markets show divergent employment and productivity trends European labor markets show divergent trends: Italy and Spain report record employment with differing contract stability, while Poland drives growth through productivity despite demographic declines. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/marche-employment-rate-exceeds-italian-average-despite-skills-shortages ### 2026-08-05: Italian Executive Market Reaches Record 134,000 Managers Amid Regional Gaps Italy’s private‑sector executive pool hit 134,000 in 2025, up 2 %, but remains low versus peers, with stark regional gaps and a shortage in SMEs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-executive-market-reaches-record-134000-managers-amid-regional-gaps --- Cite as: Italian labor market trends and regional disparities. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-labor-market-trends-and-regional-disparities