University of Padua, Italy
IZA World of Labor role
Author
Current position
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Economics and Management, University of Padua, Italy; Visiting Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at SOEP, DIW Berlin, Germany
Research interest
Applied microeconomics, labor economics, household economics, health economics
Qualifications
PhD Economics, University of Padua, 2016
-
The labor market in Italy, 2000–2024 Updated
Italy's labor market has stabilized since the crises of the 2000s, but persistent challenges remain, amid stagnant productivity and structural imbalances
Francesca Marino, August 2025In 2024, Italy's labor market has reached record-high levels of employment and permanent contracts, marking a significant recovery from past downturns. Yet, persistent challenges remain. Youth unemployment and labor market duality remain high, and wages and productivity have stagnated for over two decades. Although several major labor market reforms have aimed to increase flexibility and reduce segmentation, many of their effects remain contested. Female participation has risen and long-term unemployment has declined, yet regional disparities remain deep and persistent, with the south lagging behind. Self-employment is widespread but often low income and non-entrepreneurial, while undeclared work continues to weigh on labor standards and fiscal capacity. Targeted reforms are needed to improve labor market inclusion, reduce fragmentation, and support sustainable growth.MoreLess