The economic situation of the companies in Lucca, Massa-Carrara and Pisa, although worsening compared to the forecasts made in recent months, remains positive overall, with growth in staff and turnover affecting all territories with the exception of Pisa. For 2024, companies in the three provinces expect a further deterioration in terms of turnover, due to global conflicts, the still restrictive monetary policy and the slowdown of partner economies, as well as the end of construction incentives. However, companies are not giving up and during 2024 they plan to adopt some priority actions to face the challenges that await them: improving economic-financial planning, investing in professional training, strengthening digitalisation and promoting sustainable practices to adapt to new market trends . These, in summary, are the results of the annual “ClimaImpresa” survey, conducted this spring by the Chamber of Commerce of North-West Tuscany and the Institute for Studies and Research on a sample of 551 companies in the provinces of Lucca, Massa-Carrara and Pisa, some of which were released in preview on May 17 during the presentation of the annual report on the economy.
“Despite the challenging economic context – states the President of the Chamber of Commerce of North-West Tuscany, Valter Tamburini – businesses in North-West Tuscany have shown notable resilience. Our survey highlights that companies are focusing on digitalisation, circular economy and better cash flow management to face future challenges: the Chamber of Commerce is at their side in this journey. Through Digital Enterprise Points (PID), we offer training, assessment and economic support to improve the level of digitalisation of companies. On the subject of sustainability, with the SUSTAINability service we help companies identify development strategies linked to ESG objectives, providing self-assessment tools and operational ideas to improve environmental and social performance. Furthermore, through the INNOVA business school, created in collaboration with the Lucchese Technological Center and the professional associations, we are committed to promoting training for the competitiveness of businesses through an integrated program of meetings dedicated to business management, the protection of industrial property and the application of innovative technologies. We are convinced that, through our commitment and the support of the economic community, businesses in our area will be able to continue to grow and prosper, successfully facing the challenges of the market.”
For businesses province of Lucca, the economic picture for 2023 remains positive, although it has deteriorated compared to the forecasts made in recent months. The final data for 2023 say that 37% of companies recorded an increase in turnover, while 32 percent suffered decreases, generating a positive balance of 5 percent. Employment also grew by 4.4% compared to the previous year, representing the best change in all of North-West Tuscany. For 2024, the turnover outlook remains moderately positive, despite the worsening recorded in the construction sector due to the end of bonuses and the reduction in the purchasing power of families which impacts above all on trade. The balance between increases and decreases in turnover stood at +4 percentage points. However, on the external side, Lucca businesses are worried about the ECB’s still restrictive monetary policy, war conflicts and the slowdown of the German and Chinese economies, not even neglecting the negative effects of meteorological events. On the internal front, companies in the province of Lucca report the tax pressure, the loss of purchasing power of families and excessive bureaucracy as internal factors impacting. To address these challenges, they intend to strengthen economic-financial planning to counter difficulties on the credit side, invest in employee training to ensure adequate staffing and focus on strengthening the now indispensable digitalisation and energy saving-circular economy processes.
the final economic framework for 2023 in province of Massa-Carrara remains extremely positive, exceeding the expectations formulated in recent months. In fact, 41 percent of businesses recorded increases in turnover, while only 19 percent suffered decreases, leading to a positive balance of 22 points: the best in the area. On the employment front, growth of 0.3 percent was recorded. However, the prospects for 2024 show a less optimistic climate, especially in the construction sectors, due to the end of bonuses, and trade, in difficulty due to the reduction in the purchasing power of families and new consumption habits. The balance between increases and decreases in turnover drops to -6 percentage points. The main concerns of Massa-Carrara companies regarding global factors concern conflicts, restrictive monetary policy and the slowdown of the main world economies, as well as the (indirect) effects of the blockage of the Suez Canal on the port of Carrara. At a domestic level, the high tax burden, the decrease in the purchasing power of families and excessive bureaucracy are sources of concern. To face the challenges of 2024, Massa-Carrara companies are focusing on employee training, on the optimization of economic-financial planning, given the difficulty in accessing credit, on digitalisation, on energy saving and on the circular economy, in addition to creation of networks between companies to achieve common objectives.
