Flow Decree 2026-2028: needs on a regional basis

It is agriculture the sector that asks for the largest number of non-European workers: 100 thousand seasonal and 10 thousand non-seasonal, each year, for fishing and the agro-food industry. In practice, 330 thousand foreign workers over the three-year period. This is a higher demand than the admissions allowed by the last flows decree 2023-2025, which stems from the difficulty of replacing retiring workers.

On the other hand, the need indicated by the tourism-hotel sector declined, requiring 26,400 seasonal workers (8,550 in 2026, 8,750 in 2027 and 9,100 in 2028) and 6,900 non-seasonal workers (2,300 each year). In all, 33,300 foreign workers. "The discrepancy between applications and quotas, economic expectations and the limits of the regulations have led us to reduce the demand for workers," explains Angelo Candido, head of Federalberghi's trade union service. 'Despite the changes and simplifications, the click day system,' he adds, 'has structural criticalities and should be overcome, strengthening and simplifying the channel for training non-European workers in their countries of origin'.

Nicola Ciccarelli, vice-president of Associazione italiana Confindustria Alberghi (Aica), is on the same wavelength: 'The hotel sector,' he explains, 'continues to suffer from staff shortages, especially for operational figures, and the entry of non-EU workers may be a solution. The flows decree, however, still has some critical issues related to the complex and costly procedure, click days and delays in issuing visas'. 'Moreover,' he adds, 'when the application is submitted, and therefore before it is accepted, it is necessary to attach an affidavit from a qualified professional, certifying that the applicant meets the requirements and has the economic capacity to hire the required number of workers. It is a costly document, which burdens companies regardless of the outcome of the procedure, and it is not always easy to find an available professional, bearing in mind the responsibilities, including criminal ones'.

In the family assistance sector, Assindatcolf has indicated a need for 57,536 helpers, carers and baby sitters in three years (18,513 in 2026, 19,262 in 2027 and 19,761 in 2028). A number that reflects the places made available in 2025, divided, however, between the 9,500 annual places for family assistance (provided for by the flows decree) and the extra 10,000 added only for 2025 by decree 145/2024 for the benefit of the elderly and disabled.

In the field of non-seasonal workers,construction is the sector with the greatest need for non-EU labour. At the February click days for 2025 entries, there were almost 35,000 requests. For the next three-year period the National Association of Building Contractors (ANCE) has indicated a need for 18 thousand workers (6 thousand per year, in the three-year period 2026-2028) but is also promoting important projects for training foreign workers in their countries of origin.

Excluded from quotas and click days by the Cutro decree (Decree 20/2023), the entries into Italy through thetraining in the countries of origin involve 5,200 people (667 have completed the training courses). Fincantieri is counting on this channel, which is activating two pilot projects, while it has not made any requests for the flows decree.

Asstel, which associates telecommunications companies, also promoted a training project abroad. Through the flow decree, it asked for 200 people in 2025 for the fibre-laying business.