Demand for labor drops by around 10% in the April-June 2024 quarter, for companies in the provinces of Lucca, Massa-Carrara and Pisa compared to the same period of the previous year. This contraction is mainly attributable to service sector, with particular reference to tourism, services to people and businesses. It is important to consider, in this regard, the different positioning of Easter in the two years, which could have influenced hiring, with a part probably moved to the first quarter of this year, consequently penalizing the second. The monthly data confirm this trend, with a decrease in the comparison between March last year and March this year and an increase in the comparison of April. In the quarter, a further increase in demand for labor in the construction sector was observed, which confirms the hypothesis that the works started thanks to government bonuses are still, at least in part, to be completed. The mismatch between job supply and demand remains at historically high levels. Among the most requested professions there is a prevalence of workers in catering activities, justified by the start of the tourist season, followed by sales workers. This, in summary, is what emerges from the data collected for the April-June 2024 quarter on a sample of over 2,600 companies with employees in the provinces of Lucca, Massa-Carrara and Pisa by the Excelsior information system, a provincial-based survey carried out by Unioncamere in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies and developed by the Chamber of Commerce of North-West Tuscany and the Institute for Studies and Research – Isr.
“The survey data Excelsior show, after a long period of growth, a first setback for the demand for work – he states Valter Tamburinipresident of the Chamber of Commerce of North-West Tuscany -. Beyond specific factors affecting tourism and construction, it is necessary to carefully monitor these trends and take appropriate measures to stimulate growth. On this front, the Chamber is committed to encouraging the meeting between supply and demand of work, supporting targeted initiatives. In fact, we work to offer not only training activities, but also orientation services that help young and old people to develop the skills required by the market and find employment opportunities to promote inclusive and sustainable growth”.
In the province of Lucca, in the April-June quarter of 2024, the forecast of hiring by Lucca companies with employees reaches 14,290 units, with a significant decrease (-13%, corresponding to -2,200 units) compared to the same quarter of 2023. Companies declare that 44% of hiring will be difficult to make. Having gained previous experience in the sector is required for over 43% of entries. Of the planned hires, 27% involve candidates with a secondary level of education, while 42% are aimed at staff with training qualifications or professional diplomas. The demand for graduates it stands at 6%, while in 24% of cases compulsory schooling alone is considered sufficient. Only 1% refers to Its. The dynamics of labor demand in the second quarter of the year sees a significant growth in Industry (+57%, corresponding to +1,220 units, also thanks to construction), while the performance of Services is negative, with a forecast decrease in planned hiring of -24%, equal to -3,420 units.
The main fields of study required
Of the scheduled hirings, 27% are aimed at candidates with a secondary level of education, while 42% are aimed at personnel with a training qualification or professional diploma. The demand for graduates stands at 6%, while in 24% of cases compulsory schooling alone is considered sufficient. Only 1% refers to Its.
Going into specifics, it is highlighted that for university level the most requested major is economics, with a forecast of incoming graduates of 240 units. Followed by the teaching and training branch, with a forecast of hiring of around 130 units, followed by the industrial engineering branch (100) and the electronic and information engineering branch (70).
There prediction relating to the secondary school level, tourism, food and wine and hospitality are in first place with 1,120 units requested in the quarter, followed by the administration, finance and marketing branch with 1,010 units, by the mechanics, mechatronics and energy branch with 410 and finally by the electronics and electrical engineering branch with 380.
For students with a training qualification or professional diploma, the catering branch is clearly the most relevant with a forecast of 1,970 entries, also thanks to the start of the tourist season. Followed by the promotion and reception services address (800), the mechanical address (640) and the administrative secretarial address (480).
Entrances by age group
63% of the arrivals expected in the April-June 2024 quarter will involve workers under the age of 45: 32% of the hires are in fact aimed at young people up to 29 years of age, while 31% at candidates in the 30 age group -44 years. 7% of hires are then intended for workers aged 45-54, while in 29% of cases age is considered a non-relevant requirement.
The dynamics of the sectors
The dynamics of Labor demand in the second quarter of the year sees significant growth in the Industry sector (+57%, corresponding to +1,220 units), while the performance of services is negative, with a forecast of a decrease in planned hiring by -24%, for -3,420 units.
As a consequence of the aforementioned trends, the demand for workers from industry rises to over 3,350 units, while that expected from services drops to 11 thousand hirings in the quarter. With reference to the specific sectors of the industrial sector, imanufacturing and public utilities recorded an increase of +48%, for a total of 2,470 revenues in the quarter. The construction sector also saw strong growth, almost doubling the values of the previous year (+420 hires), for a total of 880 new entries in the quarter. The sector therefore resumes growth despite the end of the tax incentives, but it should also be considered that in the second quarter of 2023 there was a significant decrease compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
In the services the demand for work in the quarter grew by +3% for trade, reaching 1,790 workers required. The greatest contractions are instead manifested in tourism which, with 4,820 entries expected in the period April-June 2024, sees a decrease of -23% compared to the same period of the previous year, in absolute value -1,480 units. This is a forecast from sector operators which causes concern for a period which represents the start of the summer season, but which is partly affected by the fact that in 2023 the Easter holidays fell in the month of April.
The demand for work foreseen by business services is also contracting, the request for which stops at 1,480 units, with 910 fewer entries (-38%) compared to the corresponding period of 2023. The decrease for personal services is also significant, down by over a thousand units (-28%) in the quarter to 2,860 expected entries.
The most requested professions in the quarter
In the April-June 2024 quarter, among clerical and commercial professions, there was a strong demand for workers in catering activities (3,830), justified by the start of the tourist season, followed by 1,080 sales workers and 780 security and surveillance service workers and custody.
Among specialized workers, the first three positions foresee a similar number of entries, with workers in the construction sector (390 units), motor vehicle drivers (390 units) and artisan mechanics, assemblers, repairers, maintainers of fixed and mobile machines (380 units).
Among the highly specialized professions, 130 market relations technicians, 120 professional training teachers and instructors, 110 health technicians and 100 technicians for the organization and administration of production activities are required.
Finally, unskilled professions show a significant demand for unskilled personnel in cleaning services (2,010 units), for unskilled personnel responsible for moving and delivering goods (470 units) and for unskilled personnel in manufacturing (150 units) .
The April forecast
The month of April 2024 presents a decrease in the demand for work from Lucca companies with employees, with a slowdown of -6% corresponding to -280 units compared to the same month of 2023, for a total of 4,480 entries.
The mismatch between job supply and demand stabilizes compared to last year: companies encounter difficulties in finding the required skills in 41% of cases, one percentage point more than in April 2023.
In 18% of cases the expected income will be stable, i.e. with a permanent contract (11%) or apprenticeship (7%), while for the remaining 82% a fixed-term contract is expected, mainly fixed-term (66% ).
Tags: Lucca demand work drops tourism sector
