Italy is going through one Critical phase for its industrial sector. If on the one hand technological innovation and digitization are trying to guide the transition to a more sustainable and competitive economy, on the other the structural difficulties and global changes are putting many production sectors under pressure. The increase in layoffs and the stagnation of productivity are two obvious signals of an industrial crisis that becomes more and more profound.
According to data released by INPS on May 2, in First quarter of 2025 The authorized layoff hours increased by 30.2% compared to the same period of 2024, with an evident impact on the labor market and the competitiveness of the Italian industrial system.
How the industry sector goes to Italy, the data
In March 2025, as the display of the INPS report, the Authorized layoffs of layoffs they were 61.7 millionmarking a decrease compared to the previous month, but still a significant increase compared to March 2024, when it was only 39.9 million hours. This increase, equal to 30.2% in the first quarter of 2025, is a tangible sign of the growing difficulty of numerous Italian industrial sectors, which are dealing with the need for organizational renovations and adaptations to new production paradigms.
There extraordinary layoffs (Cigs), on the other hand, recorded a significant increase, going from 13.6 million hours authorized in March 2024 to 29.9 million hours authorized in March 2025. This increase, which includes 16.2 million hours for solidarity contracts, is a clear indication of the difficulty of these companies to guarantee operational continuity without adequate public support.
The most affected sectors From this phenomenon they are those with a great employment impact, such as the metalworker, The textile, clothingThe leather and the footwear. And it is no coincidence that these are sectors that, to date, are facing transition processes linked to technological, environmental and market challenges that require constant adaptation and reorganization.
The industrial crisis extends to employment and work
The crisis that is going through the industrial sector, for obvious reasons, He has also extended to the world of work. Another uncomfortable indicator that emerges by analyzing the INPS report, in fact, concerns the Italian employment market. In particular, as regards Naspi, although the total amount of the beneficiaries of the unemployment benefit has remained relatively stable, with 1,303,982 people who benefited from it in November 2024, however, there was a Increase of 2.2% compared to the same month of the previous year.
This increase, although not dramatic, It is however a signal of a labor market that struggles to recover the pre-crisis levels, with an increasing number of people who, despite the recovery, continue to be looking for work.
The fact that Naspi’s number of beneficiaries does not significantly decrease is not a surprise, especially considering that many of the Italian companies are still struggling with difficulties related to the management of pandemic and its side effects. The crisis led to Loss of numerous jobsand the uncertainty linked to the economic future continues to affect the possibility for many people to re -enter the labor market in a stable way.
Productivity also falls
Another fundamental aspect to consider, emerged from monitoring, is the trend of productivity: Italy is going through a phase of economic stagnation And the growth of productivity, which in the past has been the engine of the competitiveness of the Italian industrial system, seems to have run over.
According to experts, one of the main reasons is the inability of companies to invest in innovation and modernization. While many other countries are pushing on the digitization and adoption of new technologies, many Italian companies continue to operate with obsolete production modelsnot adaptable to the challenges of the global market. This technological gap And the resistance to change make it difficult for Italy to maintain step with the most advanced countries in terms of productivity and competitiveness.
In addition, the continuous corporate renovation processes, also linked to the ecological transition and the globalization of the markets, are putting Under pressure human and organizational resources. The continuous use of the layoffs and the progressive slowdown of the production processes are a clear reflection of a system that struggles to remain competitive.
To get out of this crisis, Italy needs more incisive industrial policieswhich point on innovation, digitization and training. The industrial renovation cannot be separated from an investment in skills, both on the technological and management level. It is essential that Italian companies, even the most traditional ones, manage to make the necessary jump to face the challenge of the digital and sustainable transition.
