In the last decade the Italian labor market has gone through substantial transformations, from the structure of employment, to the professional composition of the population, to the living conditions of workers, have been determined by the intersection of cyclical and structural factors: the great economic crisis, the gradual shift of production towards services, and long-term socio-demographic trends.

In 2018, more than ten years after the start of the crisis, the recovery of the level of employment is the result of a reallocation of the labor force towards low-skilled (and low-paid) sectors and professions. In addition, starting in the second half of 2018, Italy entered a new phase of stagnation.

Against this backdrop, the precondition to survive and grow is to overcome a short-term view, investing in skilled human resources, continuous innovation, and research and development. The State plays a leading role in favoring this renewal, with targeted incentives and infrastructure investments, especially in the South.