Il engineering sector reared its head, recovering pre-Covid levels. This was announced by Federmeccanica in the latest economic survey, the 159th, carried out by its Study Centre. According to the report, in the first half of 20021 the industry fully recovered the production volumes that were achieved before the outbreak of the pandemic.
Going into details, in the second quarter production grew by 2,1% on the first quarter and 47% on the same period last year, which however was affected by the closure of the companies in April. Making a comparison between April-June 2020 and January-February 2020, i.e. the months immediately present at the outbreak of the pandemic emergency, the survey highlights a growth of 1,5%.
Expanding the time horizon, in the first six months of 2021, volumes increased year-over-year by 29,9%, aligning (almost) with those recorded in the first half of 2019 (-0,8%).
The ascent has also produced another important result: the companies have done less recourse to layoffs. There is also a reversal of the negative trends in employment dynamics among companies with more than 500 employees (+1,2% in June 2021 compared to December 2020).
Looking to the future, prospects emerge for the engineering sector further recoveries of productive activity, but a climate of uncertainty remains linked to the evolution of the pandemic and the dynamics of raw material prices and their availability. The survey carried out by Federmeccanica reveals that 47% of the interviewees declare an order book improving, 37% foresee increases in production and 26% believe they will have to increase employment levels in the next six months (on the contrary, 7% think you need to decrease them).
Some concern comes instead on the impact of commodity price dynamics on the company's activity and their availability on the market: 93% of the companies interviewed felt the effects of the increase in the prices of metals and semi-finished metal products, while 72% declared supply difficulties. Factors that could lead to an interruption of production in 21% of companies compared to the previous 14%. Two out of three entrepreneurs (64%) believe that the upward trend in prices could also continue in the coming months.
"We welcome with interest the contribution presented today by Federmeccanica on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, called "Progetto Competere", declares Roberto Benaglia, secretary general Fim Cisl present at the presentation.
“The robust production recovery, which even today the economic data on the sector demonstrate, must be used to further modernize trade union relations in the sector, weaving new opportunities for discussion between the parties. The “Progetto Competere” puts forward proposals on the subject of policies for changing work, the requalification of skills, the centrality of the person which constitute a common work ground”, affirms the trade unionist.
