ANCONA – In the first quarter of 2024 there was an increase in self-employed workers with +1.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, equal to 2 thousand more employed and with +7.9% compared to the first quarter of 2023 (11 thousand employed in more); growth mainly due to the increase in employment in services.
In this area, however, they underline Confartigianato and Cna Marchethere was also the largest drop in employed employees -6.1% compared to the last quarter of 2023 and -2.2% compared to the first quarter of 2023. Overall, employees decreased by 3.8%, equal to 19 thousand units, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 and by 1% compared to the first quarter of 2023 (-5 thousand units).
Of note is the increase in female employment (compared to the first quarter of 2023) of 5.7%, equal to 15 thousand more employed, while in the same period male employment decreased by 2.6%, equal to 9 thousand units less.
Those employed in the Marche region in the first quarter of 2024 were 631 thousand, down by 17 thousand compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 (-2.6%). On a trend level, however, the Marche region recorded a positive change of 1%, equal to 6 thousand more employees compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Among the sectors, there was an increase in construction of 15.4% (equal to 5 thousand more employed) compared to the previous quarter and of 12.5% (equal to 5 thousand more employed) compared to the first quarter of 2023. The manufacturing decreases by 3.3% (-6 thousand units) compared to the last quarter of 2023; however, it is growing compared to the first quarter of 2023 (+3.2%, equal to 6 thousand more units).
Services recorded a total of -3.8% (-16 thousand units) compared to the fourth quarter of 2023; within the macro-sector, trade, hotels and restaurants are positive, increasing by 1.8%, equal to 2 thousand units. However, considering the first quarter of 2023, the total services recorded a +0.1%.
«We need – underline Paolo Silenzi, president of Cna Marche, and Paolo Longhi, vice president of Confartigianato Marche – public policies to support sectors in difficulty and small businesses, the backbone of the Marche production system. The signals that come from the trend in labor demand require us to strengthen our commitment to create a favorable context for doing business: reduction of tax pressure, fight against bureaucracy, better access to credit. It is also necessary to support and relaunch professional study paths both from a system perspective, through the structuring of orientation paths along the entire training path, and in a supply chain dimension that further incentivizes dual and professionalizing training”.
