This article is a contribution from Speha Fresia, one of the Italian partners of AMIL – Alliance Multi-Stakeholders for Migrants Integration and Labour.
Through an analysis of the labour market in the Lazio region and a reflection on the challenges faced by social workers in providing career guidance to third-country nationals, the article explores the main challenges and opportunities to strengthen cooperation between public and private actors in the labour inclusion of migrants.
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Social workers engaged in labour orientation for third-country nationals often struggle to effectively monitor employment opportunities and active labour policies, frequently relying on personal rather than structural relationships with the productive sector.
The AMIL project aims to address these critical issues. Through its Labour Market Report in Italy and a business database, it will provide a methodology and operational tools to reinforce the cooperative approach among stakeholders, based on the MEIC methodology (Migrants Economic Integration Cluster).
With regard to the sectors offering the most opportunities for young people, the 2023 data analysis for the Lazio region clearly shows where the highest employment potential is concentrated.
The most dynamic sectors, leading in new hires, are two:
- Accommodation and food services (including tourism) – which alone account for a significant share, representing 38% of job postings for young people.
- Commerce, both wholesale and retail, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, which also reaches 38% of total requests.
Immediately after these two main “drivers,” Advanced Business Support Services rank third, with 36% of job openings. They are followed by Construction (24%) and Operational Support Services for businesses and individuals (15%).
Despite this dynamic demand, the regional labour market shows significant difficulty in finding certain professional profiles among young workers. This means that, in many cases, companies struggle to identify suitable candidates for available positions.
Considering positions classified at EQF Level 3 in the European Qualifications Framework, the professions with the highest gap between labour supply and demand are found in several key areas:
Sector: Construction and Installations
- Occupation: Skilled construction finishers
- Hiring difficulty: 73% (3,900 out of 5,360 expected hires)
- Occupation: Electrical and electronic equipment installers and maintenance technicians
- Hiring difficulty: 54% (940 out of 1,760 expected hires)
Sector: Services and Market
- Occupation: Beauty care operators
- Hiring difficulty: 53% (2,440 out of 4,560 expected hires)
- Occupation: Restaurant and catering workers
- Hiring difficulty: 51% (16,490 out of 32,050 expected hires)
In summary, the Lazio region offers a wide range of job opportunities, particularly in tourism, hospitality, and trade, while at the same time struggling to find qualified workers in key sectors such as construction and personal services.
These figures highlight a strong mismatch between labour demand and supply, especially for technical and professional roles, suggesting a potential area of intervention in vocational training for young third-country nationals.
There are several useful sources that social workers can use to monitor employment trends and local job potential in their area, including ISTAT, the “ Atlante del Lavoro e delle Qualificazioni” , Sviluppo Italia Lavoro and “Sistema Excelsior Union Camere”
AMIL – Alliance Multi-Stakeholders for Migrants Integration and Labour
To learn more about the AMIL project, click here
