“Those who seek do not find, but those who know how to seek”, Luigi Einaudi. This aphorism is valid for any research. Even a job. Although many young people are increasingly discouraged and the data on unemployment in Italy seem to prove them right, it is actually possible to find job opportunities in Italy as well. Just know how to look for them.
Obviously this post will not affect the numerous and profound employment problems from which Italy suffers. These remain on the table and could only be resolved, or at least mitigated, by serious labor reform and a restart of the economy. On the other hand, "knowledge is power": in this case, being aware of the context makes the job search relatively less difficult because you have a slightly more precise idea of how to move.
Having clarified this, it is time to reveal the sectors and skills on which to focus in your job search. Tips for finding work in Italy what businesses want.
Where to look
According to 2014 data from the Excelsior information system, the sector that offers the most opportunities this year (in terms of expected recruitment) is the tertiary sector (services), followed by the secondary sector (industry). Particularly rich in opportunities are retail trade, tourism services, accommodation, catering, business and people support services, healthcare, social assistance and health services.
In terms of professional groups, the most sought after are qualified profiles for services, crafts, agriculture, or technical professions. Geographically, it is still more convenient for Italians residing in Southern Italy to emigrate to the North, where more than half of the recruitments scheduled for this year are concentrated.
What you need to know (and be able to do)
Although graduates have an advantage in terms of employment compared to graduates, you don't necessarily need to have the famous "piece of paper" to find a job. In fact, for a third of the profiles sought, no specific training is required and, for 43,3% of the hires, a high school diploma is sufficient. This may be due to three factors
1. The Italian productive fabric does not need many graduates
According to data from the Excelsior information system, the hiring of graduates started to grow again in 2013 (+0,7%), although this is not enough to recover the 34% drop that occurred between 2008 and 2013. However, a less marked drop compared to that recorded for the other levels of education. In any case, in 2013 the share of people hired with a high school diploma rose (from 38,3% to 42,3%): the high school diploma is once again confirmed as the most requested qualification by companies.
Furthermore, according to the 2014 Survey on the employment conditions of graduates, conducted by Almalaurea in 2013, a degree is not always useful for work, so much so that five years after graduation:
10% of respondents do not use the skills acquired with the degree;
12,4% consider it to be little or not at all effective in the work performed.
2. The world of school is too distant from that of work
The McKinsey study "Education to Employment: Getting Europe's Youth into Work" reveals a certain dissatisfaction of companies across Europe with the education system: 38% believe that it does not adequately prepare young people for the job market. Perhaps because these two worlds do not dialogue enough: only 41% of companies have frequent contacts with the education system and only 21% find them effective.
Finally, in Italy, 69% of the workforce is employed in small-medium enterprises, which have greater problems in finding new recruits and, more generally, personnel in line with their needs.
3. More than "knowledge", "know-how" counts
In a word: skills. This is certified by the XV survey "Recent graduates and internships" by GIPD (Intersectoral Group of Personnel Managers). Above all, foreign languages. The knowledge of one – or even better if they are two – foreign languages and motivation are fundamental. It is surprising that a curricular internship is little appreciated, while stable jobs carried out in parallel with university are more appreciated. Testing the facts, new recruits turn out to be lacking precisely in the skills that companies consider crucial: English and practical experience (Source: “Education to Employment: Getting Europe's Youth into Work“, McKinsey, 2013). But their soft skills also leave much to be desired: young people lack the ability to solve problems, work in teams, practical experience and work ethics.
For the benefit of our job-seeking readers, we've compiled all the data on what Italian businesses want in one infographic. Happy searching everyone!
