Low-paid jobs in tourism: over 70 per cent of employees earn less than 14,800 euros a year
According to a study by Filcams Cgil, almost half of workers in the service sector (47.51 per cent, to be precise) are in the ‘working poor’ category. The widespread prevalence of involuntary part-time work has an impact on wages
Key points
- Among women, almost 53% in the service sector are working poor
- In terms of trade, the wide regional disparity disadvantages the South and the Islands (48.5% below the poverty line)
- Wages in the tourism sector are being affected by the increasing prevalence of part-time work
- A 15-point gender pay gap in the services sector, to the detriment of women
- Russo (Filcams): Involuntary part-time work has now become a structural issue
Almost half of those employed in the service sectors (47.51% to be precise) – namely retail, services and tourism – are working poor: they earn an annual wage of €13,950 or less, the wage poverty threshold (equivalent to 60% of the median wage), which rises to €14,800 for those who have worked for at least twelve weeks during the year. In Southern Italy, more than three in five workers in the service sector are considered to be in the working poor category.
This is highlighted in the Filcams Cgil report on low-paid work, which examines the sector that has been the driving force behind the labour market for years, given that the majority of new hires are in this very sector, driven by low value-added services in tourism, accommodation and catering, Within this macro-sector, a wide range of conditions emerges: the worst situation is found in tourism, where 71.22 per cent remain below the poverty line – a figure that affects four in five workers in the South and on the islands. One in two workers employed in services, cleaning, multi-services and catering are ‘working poor’.
Among women, almost 53% in the service sector are working poor
The research was conducted on a sample of approximately 6.3 million people (96 per cent of the total), for whom the necessary information is available to reconstruct the distribution of income from employment. More specifically, the survey refers to the concept of a ‘working poor’ individual, whose annual earnings are equal to or less than 60% of the national median annual earnings, corresponding to 13,950 euros per year for those who have worked at least one week, and €14,800 per annum for those who have worked for at least 12 weeks).
Taking into account those who have worked for at least one week across all service sector industries covered by the survey, the percentage of employees living below the poverty line stands at 47.51 per cent, with significant differences by gender (men 40.92 per cent – women 52.93%) and geographical area (North-West 38.48%, North-East 43.63%, Centre 47.53%, South and Islands 61.47%). When the sample is restricted to those working for at least 12 weeks, the figures for 2024 are relatively lower. The incidence of in-work poverty, overall, stands at 41.71% in this case, with significant disparities by gender (men 33.70% – women 48.32%) and by geographical area (North-West 33.02%, North-East 37.09%, Centre 42.23%, South and Islands 56.35%).
In terms of trade, the wide regional disparity disadvantages the South and the Islands (48.5% below the poverty line)
In the retail sector, amongst those who have worked for at least one week, the overall incidence of in-work poverty stands at 31.16 per cent. There remains a marked gender gap (25.33 per cent for men; 36.60 per cent for women) and regional disparities, with rates of 22.39 per cent in the North-West, 25.48 per cent in the North-East, 31.29 per cent in the Centre, and as high as 48.52 per cent in the South and on the Islands.
