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WORKING IN ITALY

Six essential things to know if you are looking for a job in Italy

Finding a job in Italy can be hard due to the country's legal requirements, notorious bureaucracy and cultural norms – but it is doable.

Published: 28 August 2024 09:29 CEST
Six essential things to know if you are looking for a job in Italy
There are a few things you should know before looking for work in Italy. Photo by Arlington Research on Unsplash

Italy is known for being a difficult country to find work in.

It doesn’t have the high salaries of neighbouring Switzerland and is often ranked as one of the worst countries to work in by international expat network Internations.

Their 2024 report ranked Italy 49th out of 53 countries in the work category. With respect to career prospects alone, Italy came in 51st place.

Yet, a significant number of international residents do find work in the country, with the latest government figures showing that 2.4 million foreign nationals currently live and work in Italy

With that said, there are a few essential things to know that could make finding a job in the country much easier. 

Language skills matter

While some multinational companies and specific posts within the technology, tourism or teaching industry may only require candidates to speak English, speaking Italian in the workplace is often crucial, particularly for jobs in local businesses.

This may differ from location to location, with the demand for English speakers in larger cities such as Milan being higher.

Yet, English is not spoken in Italy as much as in other European countries. 

The latest English Proficiency Index by language school cooperation English First ranked Italy 26th out of the 34 European countries analysed. 

READ ALSO: Why English teachers say working at Italy’s language schools is an uphill battle

Many readers tell us that, whatever field or industry you’re looking to work in, it will be important to take Italian lessons before or shortly after moving to Italy to improve employability prospects.

Useful job-hunting platforms and websites

There are countless job portals that can help you when looking for a job in Italy.

There are several online platforms and websites that can help you in your job search in Italy

There are several online platforms and websites that can help you in your job search in Italy. Photo by Daniele D’Andreti on Unsplash

Going through recruitment agencies is another viable option, particularly when looking for specialised roles. International agencies like Adecco and Randstad exist in Italy and have physical branches across the territory. 

Local newspapers commonly advertise jobs in Italy as well and are searchable by clicking on or flipping to the ‘lavoro’ section.

In terms of international jobs, the United Nations has a few branches in Italy such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Job postings can be found via their website. 

Further, international companies such as Luxottica, Eni and Ferrari also have job listings on their websites.

READ ALSO: Nine of the best websites to search for jobs in Italy

One important piece of advice is to steer clear of advertisements for jobs via social media platforms such as Facebook. Unless there is a direct link for the official advertisement of the job along with contract type, salary and hours, it may be a scam.

Dealing with bureaucracy

Unless you are an EU national, you cannot work in the country without a work visa. The work visa you should apply for depends on the type of job you are looking for: seasonal work, contracted work or self-employed. The exact number of spaces is set out in Italy’s annual flows decree (or decreto flussi).

The first step in applying for a visa is to make an initial application during a so-called ‘click day’ – which is what the Italian interior ministry calls the day where applications for visas open.

Your local consulate may be able to advise on upcoming dates, but it is always advisable to double-check the Interior Ministry’s website for updates.

Unless you’re a freelancer, non-EU nationals must have a valid contract in order to be able to legally work in Italy. There are two main types of contract in Italy: a fixed-term contract (contratto a tempo determinato) and a permanent contract (contratto a tempo indeterminato). 

If you’re a freelancer, you’ll need to get a VAT number (or partita IVA). The process can be laborious and long-winded and it is generally advisable to seek help from an immigration lawyer. 

Besides work visas available under Italy’s quota system, there are some visa options that are not subject to limitations.

These include the EU Blue Card, the new digital nomad visa, secondment visas and investor visas.

Be aware of which jobs get paid the most and where

According to Italy’s economy ministry, the national gross average salary in Italy is €23,650 a year. This is significantly lower than in other European countries.

As a result, it is important to know which jobs get paid the most in the country and which regions have a higher income per person.

According to investment website Moneyfarm, the jobs with the highest wages are notary, doctor, pilot, pharmacy owner, web market manager, E-commerce manager, affiliate marketing manager, SEO specialist, accountant, and social media manager. 

According to human capital website JobPricing, the regions where you are likely to get paid the most on average are Lombardy (€33,055), Lazio (€31,945) and Liguria (€31,688 ).

Networking is vital

In Italy, who you know can be very important when looking for a job. Word of mouth and reputation are key, especially if you are a freelancer.

Networking is often regarded as vital when looking for a job in Italy

Networking is often regarded as vital when looking for a job in Italy. Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

Many Italians rely on family and friends to help them make professional connections. If you’re looking to attend networking events, you’ll find these in major cities. 

READ ALSO: ‘It’s not always sunshine’: How foreigners in Italy struggle to find work

Sites such as Eventbrite.com  and LinkedIn list upcoming formal events, whereas Meetup and Facebook tend to list more informal events. 

Holidays and cultural awareness

There’s a misconception that Italians do not work hard. Italy’s standard contracted working week is 40 hours a week – that’s the same as the United Kingdom.

What tends to confuse people however is the longer lunch break. Desk lunches are generally not a thing in Italy and taking an hour for lunch is common. 

People new to the country should also be aware of Italy’s long summer holidays – it is far from rare for both private and public businesses to completely shut for two or three weeks around the mid-August Ferragosto holiday.

The habit of making il ponte, literally ‘the bridge’, is also popular among workers in Italy. It consists of taking one or two days off on either side of a weekday public holiday to extend the holiday until the weekend, thus effectively ‘building’ a long weekend. 

Lastly, dress code is hugely important in the Italian workplace. Dress smartly or according to the sector you work in, as you would in other countries. Turning up to work in the finance sector in jeans and a t-shirt is not considered good etiquette.

Are you going through or have you been through the process of applying to work in Italy? Let us know your experience in the comments below.

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WORKING IN ITALY

Reader question: Can I have a freelance side gig as an employee in Italy?

Freelancing is an attractive option for those seeking the flexibility of working for themselves. But can you start the process while you’re already in employment in Italy?

Published: 20 August 2024 13:19 CEST
Reader question: Can I have a freelance side gig as an employee in Italy?

As attractive as self-employment (and the flexibility that goes with it) may be, deciding to leave behind the security of a steady employment contract to become a freelancer can be difficult. 

That’s why many people choose to start out by having a freelance sideline while still in employment.

This is generally allowed in Italy as long as it’s not explicitly prohibited by your employment contract.

So if you’re thinking of starting up a side gig as a freelancer, the first thing you should do is read your employment contract carefully (including any inconspicuous small print) to check whether it is permitted by your employer. 

While some contracts may allow you to carry out freelance work on the side, you may be required to get express permission from your employer before doing so.

And even if your contract places no specific restriction, it’s still generally advisable to be open with your Italian employer about your freelance sideline to avoid any potential issues further down the line.

Once you’ve overcome this first hurdle, there are a few other important things to consider. 

‘Duty of loyalty’

If you start a freelance sideline, keep in mind that you’ll be bound by a “duty of loyalty” (or obbligo di fedeltà in Italian) to your employer under Article 2105 of Italy’s Civil Code. 

This means that you cannot engage in freelance activities that directly compete with your employer’s business.

Furthermore, you cannot disclose any of your employer’s data, work methods, production techniques, or any other confidential information to other businesses you may work with. 

Any breach of this obligation could result in your employer issuing a dismissal letter for “just cause” (giusta causa), which triggers the immediate termination of your employment contract.

Registering with Italy’s tax office

Self-employed workers in Italy need to register with the Italian tax office (Agenzia delle Entrate) by getting a VAT number (Partita Iva) – ​​a government-issued code consisting of 11 digits. 

As a Partita Iva holder, you’ll be responsible for covering all of the relevant contributions to Italy’s social security agency Inps, as well as filing yearly tax returns and paying income taxes related to your freelance work earnings (see below).

READ ALSO: Is Italy’s flat tax rate for freelancers right for you?

Though the process of getting a Partita IVA is free of charge, managing your self-employment tax affairs can be very time-consuming as it involves a significant amount of paperwork, especially when compared to work as an employee.

How much tax will I have to pay?

Italy has two main tax regimes for self-employed individuals. 

Under the so-called “ordinary regime” (regime ordinario), you’ll pay Italy’s standard income tax (Irpef), which ranges from 23 percent to 43 percent of your taxable income depending on how much you earn.

Under the “flat-tax regime” (regime forfettario), you’ll pay a flat tax of just five percent of your taxable income for the first five years of business and 15 percent over the following years.

The advantageous flat-tax scheme however isn’t available to all self-employed workers. See our guide to see the main eligibility criteria and exceptions.

It’s worth pointing out again that, besides income taxes, you’ll also have to pay social security contributions. 

The rate varies according to the type of work you do but generally hovers around 20 to 25 percent of your taxable income. 

Is there a limit to my working hours as a freelancer?

There is no limit to the number of hours you can devote to your freelance gig each week. 

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How to write the perfect CV for a job in Italy

However, Italian career consultants often advise workers to carefully organise their time in order to keep their freelance sideline from getting in the way or even undermining their position as an employee. 

Depending on the nature of the freelance activity you are engaged in, you can choose to do it occasionally or on a set schedule (for instance, every day after work hours or on weekends).

Can I have a freelance sideline if I have a work permit?

According to social security agency Inps, holders of a residency permit for employment purposes (permesso di soggiorno per lavoro subordinato) are allowed to carry out “other employment or self-employment activities” alongside the role tied to the permit. 

This doesn’t apply to seasonal work permits (permessi di lavoro stagionale).

Please note that The Local cannot advise on individual cases. For more information, get in touch with local immigration authorities or seek the advice of a qualified professional.

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