Italian employers have been inundated with more than 600,000 pre-applications for non-European Union (EU) workers, surpassing the set quota for next year by four times. The majority of applications, approximately 260,950, were filed for seasonal jobs in tourism and agriculture.
Italy is currently facing a severe shortage of workers across various sectors, prompting the government to increase the quota for non-EU workers to 136,000 for next year, a higher number than the previous year. However, the overwhelming number of applications received suggests that the country still requires a significant influx of foreign workers, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
The Interior Ministry of Italy revealed that employers have submitted around 608,000 pre-applications for the upcoming annual work visa lottery, set to open on December 2. Of these applications, 260,950 were for seasonal jobs in tourism and agriculture, while 253,470 were for non-seasonal jobs in construction and related sectors. Additionally, 86,070 pre-applications were made for domestic workers and carers in the healthcare industry.
The quota will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis once the electronic submission window opens. Different visa types will have designated days for submission, although certain sectors will have specific reserved quotas.
Angelica Donati, president of the youth wing of the national builders association, stressed the need for more foreign workers in Italy and urged the authorities to implement measures to allow Italian companies to hire more workers. Luigi Pio Scordamaglia, director of European policies at Coldiretti, emphasized that all sectors in Italy are experiencing a shortage of workers and expressed support for an increase in legal migrant workers.
The demand for foreign workers in Italy is expected to persist as the country continues to address labor shortages and boost various sectors of its economy.
