The future of industry against a backdrop of mistrust and uncertainty
The erosion of the central role played by industry and employment cannot be separated from an analysis of Italians’ perception of the current situation, which – partly due to the difficulties caused by the conflict between Israel, the US and Iran since the start of the year – is overwhelmingly negative. More than a third of the population believe their wealth has decreased (37.5 per cent) over the last five years, whilst just over a tenth (14.2 per cent) have noticed an improvement. So much so that the ‘social mobility’ indicator – that is, movement from one social stratum to another – remains stagnant for 63.1 per cent. Consequently, in the collective imagination of Italians, our country is seen as ‘stuck’; it has lost the dynamism that characterised it in previous decades. Consequently, the future is certainly not looking rosy: 39.1 per cent are pessimistic about the outlook for the end of 2026, compared with 11.7 per cent who are optimistic. And the two issues perceived as most significant are precisely the cost of living (29.5 per cent) and armed conflicts (26.9 per cent), both of which have risen sharply compared with previous surveys. These general trends alone give an indication of the sentiment among Italians at this moment in history: a lack of confidence and uncertainty dominate the outlook. And it is reasonable to assume that the repercussions of all this will also be felt in the industrial and labour sectors.
On the subject of work, there has been a further decline in the importance attached to different professions. It has already been observed in the past that, amongst the younger generations in particular, different types of jobs were accorded a lower status. This does not mean that work has lost its importance in people’s lives, including those of young people, but the status conferred on professions appeared to be diminishing in the eyes of Gen Z.
In the latest survey by Monitor on Labour (MOL, Community Research & Analysis for Federmeccanica), whilst this erosion continues – albeit very gradually – amongst the young people surveyed, it is with no small surprise that we are witnessing a widespread phenomenon involving the rest of the population. The prestige attributed to the role of the executive has fallen from 82.0% in 2022 to the current 68.3 per cent, that of the entrepreneur from 72.3% to 57.7%, and that of the self-employed professional from 56.0% to 43.0%, to mention only the top positions. This decline, however, extends similarly to all other professions, with the exception of one: the blogger/influencer, who stands at 44.3 per cent (43.6 per cent in 2022).
If we then consider the ideal place to work, we see a minor revolution: the public sector (20.4 per cent, down from 25.7 per cent in 2023) – which for many years was perceived as the best employment opportunity – has been overtaken by the option of working from home (21.2 per cent, down from 16.9 per cent in 2023), which now tops the rankings. The pandemic and the subsequent organisational changes to working practices have undoubtedly influenced people’s perceptions. However, this shift clearly reflects the changes in attitudes towards work that have been driven by the younger generations in recent years, but which are gradually spreading to the rest of the population as well.
In the eyes of Italians, the relationship between industry and the local area in which it operates is also tending to fray: from a commitment to sustainable growth, to partnerships with the community (schools, institutions, voluntary organisations), and including welfare, all the areas mentioned are experiencing a more or less slight decline. So much so that the indicator measuring the perceived roots of industries in the local area shows a decline in the level of ‘high intensity’ (22.4 per cent, compared with 27.6 per cent in 2024), in favour of a greater sense of ‘relativity’ (66.4%, up from 58.4%), rather than an ‘absence’ (11.2%, down from 14.0% in 2024).
