Business · Economy · 8 hrs ago
Lombardy faces a widening worker gap as student numbers fall
A study points to a growing worker gap in Lombardy, Italy’s most populous region.
From 2026 to 2050, the generations leaving work are projected to outnumber those entering by 915,000 people.
The number of high school students is expected to fall 24% by 2035, with especially steep declines in technical and vocational schools.
At the same time, Lombardy businesses are expected to need about 673,000 workers from 2025 to 2029.
In 2025, nearly half of planned hires were difficult to fill.
The mismatch matters because technical and vocational skills are important to the region’s manufacturing and craft industries, which need workers to replace those retiring.
Lombardy could face a gap of 915,000 workers between people leaving and entering the workforce from 2026 to 2050.
High-school enrolment in the region is projected to fall by 24% by 2035, with particularly steep drops in technical and vocational schools.
At the same time, Lombardy’s businesses are expected to need about 673,000 workers from 2025 to 2029.
Nearly half of planned hires in 2025 were considered difficult to fill.
The figures come from research by Fondazione Adapt presented at the OrientaTalenti event in Milan.
- Who
- Lombardy’s workforce and businesses, in research by Fondazione Adapt.
- What
- The region faces a projected worker gap as student numbers fall, alongside substantial demand for workers.
- When
- The workforce gap is projected for 2026 to 2050; school enrolment is expected to fall by 2035.
- Where
- Lombardy, including figures for the province of Brescia.
- Why
- Demographic change is expected to reduce the number of people entering the workforce while businesses need workers and specialised skills.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Planned hires in Lombardy were already difficult to fill in 48.1% of cases.
Lombardy’s productive system is estimated to need about 673,000 workers.
High-school enrolment in Lombardy is projected to decrease by 24%.
The gap between generations leaving and entering the workforce is projected to reach 915,000 people.
- Projected workforce gap
- 915,000 people between 2026 and 2050
- High-school enrolment
- Projected to fall 24% by 2035
- Technical school enrolment
- Projected to fall 35% by 2035
- Vocational school enrolment
- Projected to fall 32% by 2035
- Estimated worker demand
- About 673,000 workers in Lombardy, 2025–2029
- Hard-to-fill planned hires
- 48.1% in 2025
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