Moving for a job in Italy isn’t that common, given its relatively weak economic position compared to other EU countries. Nonetheless, Italy is the second largest manufacturing country in Europe. The North of the country is the most prosperous region. That said, expats and foreign job seekers still have plenty of options when it comes to working in Italy, especially if they have one of the in-demand skills.
The most in-demand jobs in the country include:
- Marketers
- IT consultants
- Engineers
- Data engineers
- English teachers
- Professors
- Cyber security experts
- Digital marketers
- Finance consultants
Unfortunately, Italy isn’t the best country for looking for a job as an expat. Yet, there are still decent opportunities. Economic projections show that Italy is set to do better in the future. As a professional, you are more likely to find a job in main cities like Milan, Rome, or Bologna.
That said, some fields in the country have a constant demand, while others are seasonal. This article offers a comprehensive guide to the most in-demand jobs in Italy in 2023, with the best employment chances. How much will you earn in Italy? Read here.
What jobs are in high demand in Italy?
In order to find a good job in Italy, you will need to make an extra effort unless your home country sends you over to work as an expatriate. You are more likely to get a job with higher demand than supply. This is mainly due to the high unemployment rate in Italy (almost 8%).
Regarding the region, the North of Italy is the best for getting a job. Lombardy produces 22% of the economic output of the country. In contrast, South Italy is suffering from unemployment and a less developed & financed economy overall.
Hence, your chances of finding employment in the South are pretty low.
As an international looking to shift to Italy for a job, here’s what you should consider:
- Demand for your skills
- Future projections in your area of specialization
- Terms and conditions attached to the industry
- Language requirements
- Your eligibility to work as a foreigner
- Salary
- Employee benefits and bonuses
Besides, different sectors have reacted differently in the post-Covid era, with some realizing an upward shift while others are on a decline.
Once you get a job in Italy, you can get a visa and work permit. After that, you are all set to pursue your dream job in your dream country.
Some professions in high demand in the Italian job market include:
1. Machine learning engineer
Machine learning is a great career choice with high demand now and in the next decade as many sectors continue to endorse its development.
In Italy, a machine learning engineer earns approximately €40,000 annually, which is good pay.
To qualify for this position, you need to have a degree in computer science, information technology, software engineering, or any other related field with a specialty in machine learning. The higher your qualifications and experience in the area, the more pay you’ll attract.
Like most countries, Italy is at the forefront of incorporating AI in different sectors, which has pushed the demand for machine learning engineers upwards. If this is your area, take the leap and apply for the available positions.
Also read: Living in Italy as an American.
2. Data engineer
Technological advancement has pushed the demand for data analysts and engineers to an all-time high.
Nowadays, organizations base most of their decisions on the available data; as such, the need for engineers who can come up with systems that can collect, interpret and simplify the data into usable information is in high demand.
To qualify in this field, you need either a computer science, statistics, applied mathematics, physics, or computer or software engineering degree.
The average salary of a data engineer in Italy ranges from €35,000 to €70,000. Your qualifications and previous experience determine your entry point.
3. Cyber security specialist
Organizations in Italy are racing to adapt and run most of their operations online. This advancement has led to the need for firms to hire cybersecurity specialists in a great way.
In a nutshell, the specialist is mandated with combating network threats to the data systems, ensuring high IT security for the firm, and guiding the organization in the best practice in data archives management.
You need a degree in mathematics, computer science, or a related field to qualify for this position. Experience in this technical field comes in handy and gives you a higher bargaining power while attracting higher perks.
Specialists working in Italy earn between €25,000 and €45,000 annually. Experts in cyber security have a high career growth potential based on experience.
4. Digital marketing specialist
Today, as never before, online presence is a must-have for all businesses. Hence, many companies are looking for experienced digital marketers and social media managers.
Furthermore, budgetary allocations in the digital marketing space have been on a trajectory path across the country. Statista estimates the sector to hit over six billion USD in spending in 2023 and is set to rise further in the future, as shown below:
Source: statista.com
This means that organizations will be willing to hire you at a high rate if you’re good at your craft.
You don’t need a degree to work in marketing, but a business education would help. Companies are mainly looking at the experience of a candidate and where they have been working before.
Main skills and knowledge you should bring include:
- marketing strategies
- social media marketing
- branding
- public relations
- adds management
- Google Analytics
- copywriting
To have an edge, you need to be good at website analytics and properly grasp social media platforms.
A digital marketing manager earns between €30,000 and €45,000 annually based on their experience level.
5. English teacher
Teaching English in Italy is highly demanded as more people want to perfect their English skills. To qualify, you need to have prior teaching experience and the right skills.
There are opportunities in both public and private institutions. You need a TEFL certificate of not less than 100 hours to qualify for a well-paying position as an English teacher. More hours attract higher pay.
On average, an English teacher is paid between €12,000 and €20,000 annually, depending on the employer and the city you’re stationed in.
In addition to English teachers, Italy is in shortage of teachers in various fields. In fact, the demand has increased by 93% since 2020.
The main competencies Italian employers are looking for in applicants:
- teaching
- tutoring
- mathematics
- early childhood education
- public speaking skills
- lesson planning
- curriculum development
The best locations to work as a teacher are Rome, Palermo, Treviso, Bari, and Bergamo.
6. Product manager
Organizations are willing to pay top dollar for the right talent to conquer the markets.
A product manager is tasked with developing a product from the ideation stage to landing on the customers and monitoring the performance.
It’s a broad role that involves interacting with different departments like marketing to develop a strong brand and capture market share.
Since the stakes are high for this role, you need to be skilled, have qualifications in marketing data analysis, and be business savvy. Your decision-making skills and critical thinking come in handy for this role.
Product managers in the country earn approximately €40,000. You’ll make more if you can demonstrate success in your previous role as a product manager.
7. Human resources analyst
In Italy, demand for human resource analysts has soared as many organizations need help hiring, firing, labor policies, and handling remote workers.
You can become an HR analyst with a human resources, law, social science, and business administration degree.
Due to the high demand for these professionals, the pay is also attractive by Italian standards. Analysts are paid between €20,000 and €35,000 annually. Your entry point pay depends on the employer’s policy, previous experience, and the city.
Practitioners in cities such as Rome, Milan, and Naples have higher entry-level perks than their smaller towns counterparts.
Top industries in Italy in 2023
At the same time, some sectors in Italy are growing faster than others, including:
- Digital marketing and communication
- Creative jobs
- IT (of course)
- Pharmaceutics and related R&D
- E-commerce
- Finance
After the pandemic below-mentioned industries have received an extra boost. Digital-savvy individuals now have much better opportunities to get a job.
1. Digital marketing and communication – growth among content producers like bloggers, YouTubers, and podcasters is exponential. Many employers now hire these so-called hobbyists for full-time positions. The increase is 72% since 2020.
Creators are replacing journalists and content managers by becoming content producers for companies. Moreover, many decide to work for themselves by being a blogger or YouTuber.
The main skills you need to have to work in the digital marketing and content industry are:
- content creation and management
- social media marketing
- podcasting
- creative writing
- copywriting
2. Technology sector
Tech also got a boost of 49% in terms of employment and jobs. This is also related to the digitization of many businesses. Many were forced to do so due to the pandemic. Some of the common positions that are hired include cyber security manager and game developer.
Main skills you need to have to work in tech:
- technical support
- cloud computing
- software development
- network security
- CSS
- Java
- Sql
- DevOps
- Git
3. E-Commerce
Lastly, the E-commerce industry has been rapidly growing in Italy for a few years. Italians are pretty conservative people, who prefer to buy in stores, but the young generation is looking more into online shopping.
With that, hiring for E-commerce positions has seen 51% year-over-year growth. Some typical jobs are logistics professionals, online marketers, managers, customer support, sales, warehouse clerks, and others.
Jobs in-demand in Italy with no degree
If you don’t have a degree and desire to work in Italy, your dreams are still valid. Basic qualifications and exposure in the relevant field give you an edge in getting a job in the country:
Below are some jobs that don’t need a degree and their average pay.
| Job | Annual average pay (€) |
|---|---|
| Driver | 23,000 |
| Carpenter | 18,800 |
| Mason | 23,500 |
| Customer service | 22,000 |
| Welder | 21,000 |
| Painter | 22,662 |
| Electrician | 20,400 |
| Store worker | 14,000 |
| Call center operator | 13,000 |
You can check average salaries for each profession on Italian Indeed. They give pretty accurate data. For most of these jobs, you can train on the job and upskill; however, having relevant skills in the field puts you ahead of the pack.
Learn how much you can earn in Italy in this guide.
Best jobs for foreigners in Italy
Getting a job in Italy can be challenging since the unemployment rate is pretty high. It’s currently sitting at 7.9%. Yet, with the right skills, you can find a suitable position. Here are the top jobs for foreigners in Italy:
1. Teachers
There’s a shortage of teachers in the country, especially with the right skills. English teachers top the list of in-demand teachers, and if you can handle teaching more subjects, you’ll be better placed.
2. Tour guides
Italy has a vibrant tourism sector, which raises the opportunities for tour guides, especially if you understand the country’s geography and history.
Identify the key landmarks in the country and position yourself as a knowledgeable guide; you’ll be lost for choice in openings.
3. Restaurant and hotel workers
Similar to the tourism sector, the hotel industry in Italy has plenty of job offerings. It will be helpful if you speak some Italian. Some of the jobs you can do in this area are:
- waiter
- cook/chef
- barista
- bartender
If you are a chef, perfect your cooking skills, learn the lingua, as some establishments demand that you serve what you’ve prepared, and you’re good to go.
4. Logistics and delivery
E-commerce has created better opportunities for transporters to make deliveries. As a foreigner, you can sign up with these companies to offer part-time or full-time delivery services.
Some of these companies have a retainer salary, and you’re also paid commissions for your deliveries. You could also earn tips from rendering good services. The compensation, however, is pretty low. You can expect between €1,000 to €2,000.
5. Receptionists
Given the high number of tourists that visit the country, English-speaking receptionists are always in demand in the many hotels in the country.
You will have a better position if you speak more than two languages as you could even be a translator and earn more.
6. Real estate agents
If you’re good at marketing and have confidence, you can join a real estate agent. Italian mortgage interest rates have been on the lower side, attracting more buyers than usual. The real estate industry has grown by 64% since 2020.
To deal with Italian clients, you must speak the language, but if you work with foreign investors, English would be enough. Also, it will help if you speak a second language, like German or French, for example.
As a real estate agent, your job, in the beginning, will involve identifying good buildings that you can sell and make money for the real estate company.
Agents have a retainer salary and commissions once they can convert a sale. With so many foreign investors buying homes in Italy, this could be an excellent starting point for you to build a successful real estate agency career.
Requirements for foreigners looking to work in Italy
Before applying for jobs, ensure you are allowed to work in Italy or get a work permit if required. If you come from the EU region, these are the main requirements:
- A valid passport
- Be a permanent resident of an EU country
- Proof of health insurance
- Insurance number from the EU country or an Italian tax code
Non-EU/EEA citizens must have a valid visa and work permit and fulfill all other legal requirements. You can move on a temporary visa before converting to a permanent one if you intend to stay for more than five years.
Common visa types that can allow you to work in Italy include:
- Self-employment visa
- Work visa
- Seasonal work
- Student visa
- Sports visa
- Working holiday visa
- Artistic job
Also, Italy is in the working of announcing a digital nomad visa that will allow you to work remotely from Italy. There are only limited details on this type of visa at the moment.
Before applying for any job, you need to get your paperwork right for tax purposes and avoid lawsuits.
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