Employment 2023, sharp increase in hiring in Puglia. The past year was a period of significant increase in national employment, with a historical record of 23.6 million employed, recording a positivity of 471 thousand units compared to the pre-Covid period. One of the most encouraging news was the recording of the data in the South, with a percentage increase of 3.5%. An important economic boost. The brightest southern regions include Puglia (+6.3%), Sicily (+5.2%), Campania (+3.6%), and Basilicata (+3.5%). The data, processed by the research office of the Artisans and small businesses association Cgia, also underlines a positive trend in the contractual area, with 84% of employees with permanent contracts, recording an increase of 5% compared to 2019. Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in skilled workers, indicating an increasing professionalization of the workforce.
However, not all of the South has experienced positive results. Some regions, such as Southern Sardinia and Syracuse, saw an employment contraction of -4.3%, followed by Caltanissetta, with -5.2% and Sassari -6.8%. These data suggest that, despite the overall positive improvement in employment in the South, there are still economic challenges to face in some specific areas.
The CGIA’s analysis continues to highlight that, despite the overall growth in employment, there are, however, significant changes in the nature of work. The self-employed, for example, are decreasing while permanent employment is increasing, indicating a trend towards greater job stability in the country.
There is a clear difference in employment status compared to the pre-Covid period. In fact, the southern regions have seen the greatest increases in hiring, with Puglia in the lead with an impressive increase of 6.3%, followed by Liguria and Sicily with an increase of 5.2% each. At the provincial level, the performances of Lecce stand out, which recorded an increase of 16.5%, followed by Benevento, Enna, Frosinone and Ragusa.
However, some territories in the South have not benefited from this positive trend, with South Sardinia, Syracuse, Caltanissetta and Sassari being among the provinces with a more marked decline in employment. These data highlight the importance of targeted strategies to support economic development in all Italian regions, addressing disparities and promoting an inclusive and dynamic labor market.
