In July, companies expect almost 568 thousand entries, while in the July-September quarter the employment requirement stands at 1,5 million contractsCompared to July 2025, labor demand shows a slight decline, equal to approximately 7 units (-1,1%); in the quarter, the decline is approximately 39 entries (-2,6%). At the sector level, the decline affects almost all sectors, with the exception of agriculture (+8,9 in the month), accommodation, food services, and tourism (+1,6%), the food industry (+1,2%), and operational services (+0,8%). This scenario is outlined by the Bulletin of the Excelsior information system, created by Unioncamere and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies which prepares employment forecasts for the month of July.
Industry-wide hiring forecasts: food and tobacco at the top
Industry expects 136 new hires this month and 365 in the quarter. Within this sector, manufacturing is expected to generate nearly 89 new hires this month and 232 in the quarter. The greatest opportunities come from the food, beverage and tobacco industries, with approximately 26 new hires in the month and 58 in the quarter; from the mechanical and electronics industries, with almost 19 new hires and 52 new hires; from the metallurgical and metal products industries, with 14 new hires and just under 40 new hires; and from the textile, clothing, and footwear industries, with approximately 7 new hires in July and 20 in the quarter. Construction companies expect to activate 48 contracts in the month and 133 in the quarter.
Expected hiring in the service sector: tourism obviously comes first
The tertiary sector recorded 392 new entries in July, rising to 994 over the quarter. Demand is driven by accommodation and catering services and tourist services with 138 thousand contracts in the month and 299 in the quarter. Next in line is commerce, which plans 74 new arrivals in July and 190 by September, personal services with 64 new arrivals in the month and 200 in the quarter, and operational support services for businesses and individuals with 44 and 111 new contracts.
Expected hiring in agriculture: tree cultivation dominates
Finally, the primary sector expects 40 new hires in July and 120 in the quarter. New positions remain concentrated in agriculture: 15 new jobs will be added in the tree cultivation sector this month and 57 in the quarter, while 14 new jobs are expected in the field crops sector this month and 35 in the quarter. Businesses in the agricultural services sector They plan to have 3 new entries in July and 10 by September, while those involved in breeding plan to have 3 entries this month and 6 this quarter.
Fixed-term contracts continue to prevail
From a contractual point of view, the following prevail: fixed-term contracts, which represent 64,9% of the expected revenue, while those with permanent contracts are at 14,6%. Finding difficulties affect 42,6% of open positions and are primarily due to a lack of candidates (26,3%), followed by inadequate preparation for the required skills (12,3%). The highest mismatch is found in the metallurgical and metal products and construction industries, both at 62,6%, the wood and furniture industries (60,0%), and the textile, clothing, and footwear industries (56,2%), highlighting the persistence of a structural mismatch between labor supply and demand.
The greatest difficulties in finding managerial and technical profiles
The professions that companies have the most difficulty finding are mainly managerial profiles (59,5%), specialized workers (57,3%) and technical professions (50,7%). The most marked difficulties concern those involved in construction finishing, difficult to find in 75,6% of cases, blacksmiths and tool makers (73,2%), artisan mechanics, assemblers, repairers and maintenance workers (67,4%), and maintenance workers of fixed and mobile machinery (66,5%). Among the technical profiles, we also find engineering technicians (64,9%), production process management technicians (64,3%), and health technicians (64,1%).
In the primary sector, 33% of open positions are difficult to find. The greatest difficulties continue to be encountered in this sector. positions in the category of managers, highly specialized professions and technicians (58,4% of the total), particularly market relations technicians (87,8%). Among the other most significant professional groups in the sector, the greatest difficulties in recruiting are reported for breeders and specialized livestock workers (56,9%) and for unskilled personnel in forestry, animal care, fishing, and hunting (52,8%).
Contracts for immigrants are 23,2% of the total
The contracts envisaged for immigrant workers amount to 132, equal to 23,2% of the total. Approximately 180 thousand planned incomes are allocated to young people up to 29 years of age, equal to 32% of the total, especially in financial and insurance services, where they represent 48,6% of the expected revenue, followed by information technology and telecommunications services (43,5%), trade (42,2%), accommodation, catering and tourism services (39,8%) and mechanical and electronic industries (38,8%).
Job opportunities are more numerous in the South and the Islands with approximately 199 admissions in the month and 480 in the quarter. The Northwest follows with 135 admissions in July and 379 in the quarter, the Northeast with 128 and 340, and Central Italy with 106 admissions in the month and 290 in the quarter. Among the regions, the largest needs are recorded in Lombardy (95 in the month and 256 in the quarter), Lazio (53 and 143), Campania (51 and 126), Emilia-Romagna (48 and 125), and Veneto (47 and 129).
