The 2024 tourist season has begun, but many establishments around Lake Garda still have signs saying “collaborators wanted”. This phenomenon, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, represents a significant challenge for the quality of service offered. The pandemic and social changes have indeed reduced the pool of professional skills.
Andrea Maggioni, coordinator of Confesercenti Lombardia Orientale, emphasizes the importance of changing the narrative of seasonal work, defining it as an enriching human and professional experience. The problem also lies in structuring it: “In Italy, there are few Hotel Institutes compared to the rest of Europe – continues Maggioni -. If it is true that tourism is Italy’s oil, then we need to put the Hotel Institute at the center of our students’ training, updating the curriculum and making it more closely aligned with the world of work. We cannot have Hotel Institutes like the one in Gardone Riviera, which suspends workshops for weeks due to lack of resources.”
The difficulties in the sector are not limited to training but also concern the motivation of workers. Many candidates show little inclination to work in the evenings and on weekends. The recent renewal of the National Commerce Contract has led to an increase in wages and protections, but it has also resulted in greater financial commitment for operators in the sector. The hope is that these wage improvements can stimulate consumption and support the tourism sector.
Employment Data for the Province of Brescia in 2024
According to data provided by Unioncamere for the Province of Brescia, the period between March and May 2024 expects 35,240 new hires, an increase of 14% compared to the previous year. Of these, 12,500 are related to trade, catering, and hotel accommodation. However, 75% of these hires will be temporary, while only 25% will have stability with indefinite or apprenticeship contracts.
A detailed analysis of employment forecasts for March 2024 indicates 12,360 new entries in the province of Brescia, with a concentration of 61% in the service sector and 62% in companies with fewer than 50 employees. Despite an increase in job opportunities, companies report difficulties in finding the desired professional profiles, with 49% of companies expecting recruitment problems. Additionally, 30% of job opportunities will be targeted at young people under 30.
Comparison with 2023
In 2023, the expected entries for March were 11,680, while for the period March-May, they were 33,130. Even during that period, the majority of hires were temporary, with a stability rate of 25%. The proportion of companies expecting hires was 15%, slightly lower than the 17% projected for 2024.
For 2023, 60% of the expected entries were concentrated in the service sector, while 64% involved companies with fewer than 50 employees. The difficulty in finding desired profiles was also present in 2023, with 49% of companies expecting problems in this regard. Job opportunities for young people under 30 were slightly higher at 32%.
Another interesting comparison concerns the required education levels. In 2023, 11% of the expected entries were for graduates, while in 2024, this figure is slightly lower at 10%. The top three requested professional figures accounted for 31% of the total expected entries in both years.
In terms of specific sectors, in 2023, the accommodation and food services sector expected 2,630 entries, while in 2024, this number increased to 2,950. The retail sector also saw an increase in expected entries, from 1,360 in 2023 to 1,520 in 2024.
The 2024 tourist season presents numerous challenges related to the shortage of personnel and the need to adequately motivate and train workers. Employment forecasts for the province of Brescia show a significant increase in hires but also highlight the need to address the structural problems in the sector. Attention to professional training and a reduction in the tax burden on wages are key elements to ensure quality service and a positive experience for tourists in Lake Garda.
“Now it is up to the government to proceed with the reduction of the tax burden on the wages of our employees: businesses have already done their part,” concludes Maggioni.
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