Industrial Experts: networking to revitalize the profession and the country

Networking and triggering virtuous circles. This is the recipe to revive the technical professions and, consequently, the country, according to Giampiero Giovannetti, president of the Order of Industrial Experts. The situation of professionals, both technical and non-technical, is emblematic of the state of health of the country. Net of inflation, in 2005 the average income of a freelancer was 34.500 euros a year while today it is 31.300 euros. Between 2009 and 2012, the real incomes of freelancers fell by 10,4%. In 2007-2012 the technical professions suffered above all (-22,6%).

What are the reasons for this decline?

The reasons are the same that have dramatically affected every activity of our economy. And perhaps, by analyzing the income data of members of our pension fund, it can be seen that freelancers are among the categories least penalized by the crisis. This demonstrates, beyond any reasonable doubt, a structural role of industrial experts in the country's economic system.

Faced with falling incomes, what can be done?

In recent years we have promoted various initiatives to trigger virtuous circuits in sectors of the national economy that we considered to be particularly depressed. 

For example?

I would like to recall the campaign for the scrapping of electrical systems. In the survey carried out in 2011 with Censis we denounced the danger present in about 8 million housing units in the country: a non-compliant electrical system. This translates into 241 accidents due to electrical causes every year. 

What would you like to do to solve the problem?

We have proposed a Marshall Plan for their scrapping, demonstrating that, with a subsidy equal to 45% of the costs relating to the renovation or improvement of the electrical system (balance value, in which the direct benefits for the tax authorities would fully cover the cost of the contribution to be paid by him) it is reasonable to expect:
– an increase of approximately 2 million in the number of interventions on electrical systems expected by households;
– a reduction of over 3 injuries per year;
– an increase in the turnover of the electricity sector of almost 6 billion euros per year (of which 2 directly attributable to the incentive effect);
– a growth in the number of installer companies of around 2 units and an increase in employment of 800 employees;
– an additional tax revenue of 505 million euros, equal to approximately 71% of the cost of the contribution paid by the State.

Are there other areas to work on?

Certain. One of these has already made headlines. And, in this case, I would like to remind you that a little ahead of my fellow citizen, Matteo Renzi, now Prime Minister, we underlined the urgency of an extraordinary plan for making our schools safe.

What is the trend in the number of subscribers?

Stable. But we want to grow again. Also because this country needs technicians if – like us – it wants to grow again. 

Why should a young industrial expert enroll in the professional register?

For the desire to get involved. Setting out on the path of self-employment means doing business, without depending on excessive investments, but with the stimuli and charm that only free initiative guarantees.

Within the profession, are there significant differences between the different sectors in which industrial experts are active?

There are activities that are obviously affected by the economic trend. We are therefore recording a slight decline in the construction sector, while all our activities related to safety in the workplace are experiencing a growth rate that escapes the economic cycle.

Besides declining incomes, what other challenges is the profession facing?

We must fight for a recognition of the profession in the socio-economic system that is equal to our actual value in the field. But this also depends on a clarity that needs to be achieved at the legislative level in the definition of training courses, which currently penalize our profession, allowing our engineering cousins ​​to behave like winners.

How do you see the future of the profession? 

We have one goal: to create an alternative channel to the three-year degree. We have nothing against the university, but we think it is clearly insufficient to protect the tradition, quality and innovative capacity of our profession on its own. 

What do you propose in practice?

We want, like what happens, for example, in Germany with the Fachhochschule, to be able to have technical institutes of higher training that restore to knowledge that professionalizing character which has always been the true figure of our difference since our origins.

And to improve the health status of the profession?

The health status of the profession depends on the health status of the country. This is why we created the Network of Technical Professions. Together with agronomists, architects, chemists, geologists, surveyors, engineers, agricultural experts and food technologists, we are coordinating many initiatives whose primary objective is to stimulate the country's production system. And to illustrate them we have planned a conference to be held in Rome at the beginning of May on the theme "Development and employment: the objectives of the reform of public works".

The debate on the legitimacy and existence of professional orders is always lively. What is the role of the Order of Industrial Experts today? Why is it needed?

This country is afflicted by some eternal debates, of which the one on professional orders is certainly one of the most inflated. I find it meaningless. We do not burden the state budget and therefore we are not a cost to the community. A little over a year ago an important reform of the ordinastic system and of the rights and duties of members was approved which, overall, seems to us to be an important step forward on the road to modernisation. And having a strong and dynamic professional system is an indispensable condition if the country wants to maintain a leading role among the world's economic powers.