Lodi, exports and added value on course but low labour participation

International openness is among the hallmarks, and indeed Lodi leads the benchmark ranking with a 162.3% increase in exports between 2015 and 2024. Even in the post-pandemic period, Lodi exports showed a growth of 91.8%, three times the Italian variation. Key sectors such as electronics, food and chemicals were the main drivers of this expansion.

The Lodi labour market presents elements of solidity but also some fragilities. On the one hand, the province stands out for having the lowest unemployment rate among the benchmarks, at 2.5% in 2024 and sharply down from 7.2% in 2019. At the same time, Lodi is penalised by rather high levels of inactivity in comparison with peers.

Assolombarda's research highlights some crucial challenges for the Lodi area. The employment rate (65.8%) is in the medium-low range compared to the benchmarks, and the inactivity rate (32.5%) is the highest among the compared territories, indicating a significant share of the population that does not actively participate in the labour market. Moreover, the percentage of young NEETs (13.4%) remains high compared to the average for Northern Italy.

These aspects represent areas of strategic intervention for Lodi. Further consolidating its role in the national economic landscape will require policies aimed at stimulating labour market participation and reducing inactivity, especially among young people. The proximity and fruitful synergy with Milan represent an additional potential for Lodi's future development. The positive results achieved in recent years are the result of a productive specialisation that is successfully withstanding the complexity of the external context. The challenges identified, relating to inactivity and youth participation in the labour market, represent an opportunity to further consolidate Lodi's position and strengthen its role in the regional economic landscape.

"Lodi," said Fulvio Pandini, President of the Lodi branch of Assolombarda, "confirms itself as an area of surprising dynamism, as Your Next Lodi research has highlighted this year, even when comparing it with 10 Italian provinces with similar characteristics in terms of population, employees, and local units The data speak for themselves: a growth in per capita added value and an explosion in exports that triples the Italian average in the post-pandemic period. These are extraordinary results that fill us with pride, but above all they are tangible proof of a winning synergy between our solid manufacturing, innovative services and an international vocation that sets us apart. Of course, there is no shortage of challenges, particularly on the front of inactivity and the full inclusion of young people in the labour market, but these represent precious stimuli for us to continue working and consolidate the role of the Lodigiano area as a pole of excellence in the regional economic panorama, increasingly in fruitful connection with nearby Milan'.

The Province of Lodi, thanks to its strategic position on the Milan-Bologna axis, has long been the protagonist of intense territorial transformation and significant infrastructural development. Despite the progress, the current critical issues related to mobility have made further ambitious interventions necessary, which are carefully monitored by Assolombarda for their impact on the territory.

The presence of a strategic infrastructure axis between Milan and Emilia has made the Lodi area particularly attractive for the settlement of logistics activities. This vocation has positioned the province among the most representative in Lombardy for logistics.

However, this significant settlement evolution underlines the urgency of integrated policies between infrastructural development and productive settlements. There is a need for territorial governance capable of guiding future development, promoting a sustainable balance between urban growth and accessibility throughout the province.

Digital connectivity remains an important pillar for business competitiveness in the current era. Assolombarda conducted an in-depth survey in 2024, involving 95 member companies in the province of Lodi, to analyse the state of digital connectivity in the area.

The results show a generally positive picture: as many as 95% of companies say they are satisfied with the service, recognising its strategic importance for their business. Optical fibre is the most popular technology, used by 43% of companies, followed by ADSL and wireless solutions (FWA, 4G, 5G).

As far as mobile coverage is concerned, the situation is considered good in most of the territory, although the need to further improve 5G deployment in some areas has emerged. No significant inhomogeneities in connectivity between different municipalities were found. However, the survey suggests that targeted interventions in some 'disadvantaged' areas could be useful to ensure an even better service for business needs.

In this context, Assolombarda has strengthened its active role. The Association is an integral part of the 'Il Lodigiano Connesso' table, an initiative promoted by the Lombardy Region as part of the Territorial Development Framework Agreement recently signed in Lodi. This commitment underlines Assolombarda's willingness to actively contribute to the continuous improvement of digital connectivity, thus supporting the development and competitiveness of Lodi companies.