# Expanding labour shortages and precariousness in Italy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-service-sector-labour-shortage
> Updated: 2026-08-12T14:39:42.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3.

The labor shortage in Italy’s service sector has expanded from hospitality and transport into the education system, characterized by a growing reliance on temporary staffing and unpaid wages.

In early August, transport unions in Siena and other municipalities intensified warnings regarding a chronic shortage of drivers and technicians. Unions, including FILT CGIL and FIT CISL, criticized the use of temporary depots and increased subcontracting as insufficient measures. Simultaneously, members of a school-transport commission reported that drivers in certain municipalities have not received salaries for months, accusing local councils of neglect and warning that unpaid arrears threaten essential school-transport services.

By mid-August, the crisis extended to school staffing in provinces such as Imperia and Modena. In Imperia, the union ANIEF reported that a significant majority of support roles for students with disabilities are being filled via temporary derogations rather than permanent positions, citing budget constraints from the Ministry of Education and Merit. In Modena, the Cisl Scuola union flagged a critical shortage of permanent administrative, technical, and auxiliary (ATA) staff, noting that hundreds of positions will be covered by temporary personnel. Unions argue this reliance on temporary workers creates “programmed instability,” undermining both administrative efficiency and educational continuity.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-12: Italian school unions warn of rising staffing precariousness

Italian unions warn of rising precariousness in schools, citing high numbers of temporary support staff in Imperia and a lack of permanent administrative personnel in Modena.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-school-unions-warn-of-rising-staffing-precariousness

### 2026-08-04: Italian transport drivers face staffing shortages and unpaid wages

Italian transport unions cite driver shortages in Siena, while school‑transport drivers elsewhere protest unpaid wages, both demanding immediate action from authorities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-transport-drivers-face-staffing-shortages-and-unpaid-wages

### 2026-07-25: Italian restaurant sector faces labour shortage, says Carmela Tiso

Carmela Tiso warns Italy’s restaurant industry suffers recurring staff shortages each summer, blaming temporary contracts, low wages and mismatched expectations, and urges better jobs and dialogue.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-restaurant-sector-faces-labour-shortage-says-carmela-tiso

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Cite as: Expanding labour shortages and precariousness in Italy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-service-sector-labour-shortage