Is there really an economic recovery in Italy? The growth in the demand for hiring engineers would favor a positive response. An elaboration of the Study Center of the National Council of Engineers – based on data from Unioncamere's Excelsior Information System – shows how, according to forecasts, 2015 engineers should be hired in 23.380, against 17.840 in 2014, with an increase of 31,1%.
In the last fifteen years only once had there been a higher number of hirings: 26.220 in 2008. "The data from our Study Center - commented Armando Zambrano, President of the CNI – predict a significant growth in the demand for engineers in our country and this is good news, in line with the growing signs of economic recovery in the country. This fact shouldn't surprise us too much, given that historically a growth in the demand for engineers always corresponds to a good state of health of the economy”.
“However – added Zambrano – the data in our possession also reveal many shadows. I am thinking above all of the construction sector which, also in 2015, will absorb a small number of engineers. Proof of the fact that this sector is now suffering from such a deep crisis that the decline in employment has now assumed structural characteristics. Furthermore, a large part of hiring remains concentrated in Northern Italy and this only increases the gap with the South. Finally, the demand for industrial engineers is very strong in sectors with medium or low technological intensity (for example the metalworking sector), while it remains weak in high-tech sectors".
“These elements – concluded Zambrano – lead us to ask ourselves about the real strength and forms of this economic recovery. In my opinion the reconfiguration of the industrial system is still weak. There is no real recovery without a complete modernization of industry and services, an objective that can only be achieved by focusing on a greater contribution and the greater presence of professional figures with technical skills”.
According to the data processed by the CNI Study Centre, the expected average increase of 31,1% in the hiring of engineers corresponds to a somewhat uneven growth by degree field. A real boom is forecast for the demand for graduates in civil and environmental engineering: +50,7%. Although the engineers who have followed this path occupy the last step, their number in 2015 should rise to 2.170 (against 1.440 in 2014). The second largest expected increase is that of engineers who followed the industrial path: +40,6% with 7.000 hires, against 4.980 last year. Very similar performance for graduates who followed other courses (+38,9%), while the smallest increase, among those monitored, is expected for graduates hired in electronic and information engineering who will still remain the largest contingent. In 2015, estimates speak of 9.780 hires, against 8.240 in 2014.
It is very interesting to analyze which sectors of the economy will absorb the greatest number of engineers. Over all the engineering and electronic industries stand out with a forecast of 7650 hirings, of which 4460 are the prerogative of those in possession of a degree in industrial engineering. In any case, the sector should guarantee over 3 hirings for the current year also for engineers in other branches. The expected share of engineers hired in the IT and telecommunications services sector is also very robust, with a good 6790 units. Naturally here the lion's share is made by graduates in electronic and information engineering with 5590 expected hires. Far behind are the sectors of advanced business services and business and personal support services which, added up, should slightly exceed 3.600 units.
The data relating to the construction sector. Here the effects of the crisis were such as to determine structural and long-term employment consequences. In fact, in 2015, the expected number of engineers hired is just 780 units, just over 3% of the total. Finally the geographical distribution. The data from the CNI Study Center show that the ideal territories for engineers remain those in the North-West of the country. 9.750 hires are expected in this area, almost 42% of the total. The other areas are very distant. The North-East can boast 5.640 (just over 24%); followed by the Center with 4.570 (19,5% of the total). The area of the South and the Islands closes with 3.440 hires equal to just under 15%.
