It should come as no surprise that both visitors and expats find Italy’s culture to be highly appealing, given its uniqueness. To thrive in the employment market, you’ll thus need to have a solid application and command of the language.
Italy, shaped like a boot, is a nation that frequently appears on lists of the top tourist destinations from major travel websites. This is hardly unexpected, given that it is a country with everything – the ideal fusion of the old and the contemporary worlds.
Living and working here will allow you to take advantage of the city’s sunny environment, stunning scenery, innovative architecture, and delicious cuisine. It is also rich in historical importance and at the forefront of fashion and culture.
When you’re not working, you may go to artistic places like Florence, home to statues by Michelangelo and Giambologna, or you could take in Venice’s Gothic palazzi and canals. You might also cross off viewing Rome’s sites from your bucket list and unwind in one of its charming cafés. On alternate days, you may visit Naples, the home of contemporary pizza, or peruse Milan’s couture stores.
Notwithstanding the allure of a Mediterranean lifestyle, fluent English speakers will find it difficult to get employment because of the fierce competition. Foreign workers may still be able to obtain job, though, if they understand Italian and have the necessary training, education, and experience. This is particularly true in larger cities like Rome, Florence, Milan, and Genoa.
Employment in Italy
Although the International Monetary Fund ranks it as the tenth largest economy in the world, it is mostly dependent on its industrial and services sectors. Italy’s unemployment rate, which hit double digits during the COVID-19 epidemic, is at 7.8% as of September 2022.
The north and south of Italy are very different from one another; the north is more industrialised, developed, and well-known for having a large number of private businesses, while the south is mostly dependent on farming and agriculture.
You’ll discover that ambitious graduates have a higher chance of finding employment in sizable northern towns and cities like Milan, Turin, and Genoa because the bulk of the nation’s 60.3 million residents live in the north.
Additionally, it is far simpler to get temporary jobs and casual labour in the tourism business than permanent employment in other industries given the millions of tourists that visit Italy each year to view its well-known landmarks.
Since most Italians don’t speak English well, it’s doubtful that you’ll get employment if you don’t become fluent in it. However, your fluency in English will come in very handy, especially for teaching and tourism. As a result, positions instructing English to speakers of other languages are easily accessible.
The economy is dominated by the services sector, which places a high priority on retail, wholesale, and transportation transactions. Driven by the production of high-end goods like furniture, automobiles, and clothing, industry also contributes significantly to Italy’s GDP. Italy is among the world’s top producers of fruit, wine, and olive oil in terms of agriculture.
Although there aren’t as many global corporations in Italy as in other European nations, the country is home to some well-known brands, like Versace, Gucci, Lamborghini, and Lamborghini vehicles.
Most job openings are posted online and through employment agencies.
Skills shortages
Italy has classified the following occupations as having a shortage:
- business advisor
- physician
- engineer
- English instructor
- coder.
The agency also examined the rise in employment across all work categories in Italy between 2018 and 2030 and projected that administrative services would account for around 25% of total demand, followed by professional, health, and social care services.
How to find employment in Italy
In Italy, networking with friends and family is still seen as a practical way to learn about any jobs that may become available.
As a result, it will be simpler for you to get employment while you’re in Italy because you may start networking right away, wherever you want to start your search.
You might inquire about potential secondment possibilities if you work for a firm that has operations in Italy.
If this isn’t possible, consider submitting speculative applications—which are encouraged in Italy because many positions go unannounced. If you choose this path, make sure you do your homework and submit your application to the organization’s most suitable candidate.
Applications for posted opportunities are often submitted online and include a resume and cover letter or an application form. Except in cases where otherwise specified, all applications must be presented in Italian. Get your diplomas and transcripts from school translated as well to save time.
You can anticipate a drawn-out application procedure that often entails many interviews in addition to psychometric testing.
summertime employment
Since tourism is so important to Italy, it should be simple to locate part-time or casual employment.
Seasonal employment in bars, hotels, and restaurants is widely available. Employment opportunities include summer camps, vacation homes, and, if you’re really skilled on the slopes, a ski resort in the Italian Alps.
Summertime informal occupations in the agriculture industry include gathering fruit and engaging in other outdoor activities.
Should you possess prior expertise in child care, you may want to look into being an au pair.
One excellent approach to broaden your skill set and pick up a new language is by volunteering, provided you have the financial means to work for free. Volunteering allows you to network and create relationships while also looking fantastic on your resume.
Teaching jobs
Due to the strong demand for English instructors in Italy, there is a tight rivalry for positions, and many teachers are required to have a minimum of 100 hours of TEFL certification. While there are teaching positions around the nation, the bulk of them are found in big cities and towns like Rome, Florence, and Milan. You might instruct English to staff members at firms, colleges, private language schools, and public institutions.
While certain teaching positions might need a bachelor’s degree, you can join online to study for an appropriate Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) accreditation.
Teacher hiring usually starts in the early spring for vacancies that become available in September or October.
check TEFL employment in Italy for further information relevant to that nation, and check ESL Base – English language schools in Italy for a list of language schools in Italy.
The English Language Assistants programme run by the British Council offers additional chances to teach English.
Language specifications
Most of the time, getting a job requires having a good degree of Italian language proficiency.
Living in Italy will be much simpler if you know the language, as many people there don’t speak English. Large towns and tourist destinations are more likely to have English speakers than rural locations.
Enrolling in an Italian language course might assist you in acquiring the language or enhancing your proficiency to the necessary level.
The Work Experience in Italy
You are eligible for all benefits, such as free public health care, yearly leave, and pensions, if you work in Italy and have a social security number. Some of these perks might not be applicable to self-employed people.
Because family time is highly valued in Italian culture, employees strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Italians work 36 hours a week on average, with a 40-hour maximum legal work week plus eight hours of overtime, according to Statista. You will normally work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., have a two-hour lunch break, and then work from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. because work is usually quite scheduled.
Every employee is entitled to twelve public holidays and a minimum of four weeks of paid yearly vacation. There are five income tax categories, with the highest being 43% on income above €50,000 (£43,848) and the lowest being 23% on income up to €15,000 (£13,154).
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