L’Italia perde 434mila artigiani in dieci anni

According to a recent study by the Cgia, the Association of Artisans and Small Businesses of Mestre, Italy has lost nearly 434,000 artisans over the past decade. In 2015, there were 1.7 million artisans in the country, but by 2025, their number had dropped to nearly 1.3 million, a 25.1% decrease. The number of active artisan companies also fell to 1.22 million by 2025, from a peak of 1.5 million in 2008.

No region has managed to avoid this decline, with the worst hit being the Marches, where the number of artisans fell by 31.3%. Other regions with significant losses include Umbria (-29.3%), Emilia-Romagna (-28.7%), and Piedmont (-28.4%). In Southern Italy, the decline was less severe at 20.2%. The situation is expected to worsen, with the population of artisans aging and fewer young people choosing these trades.

The Cgia warns that finding an electrician, carpenter, plumber, or plasterer for repairs could become extremely difficult within a decade. Cultural issues also play a role, with manual labor losing cultural value over the past five decades. The association recommends restoring the centrality of professional schools, which have historically been a decisive driver of economic development in Italy.

The crisis will also affect the economic model that has supported neighborhood shops and workshops, with the depopulation of small towns reducing demand already made difficult by large distribution and e-commerce. Small businesses are also sensitive to short sales declines, which can compromise their already weak financial capacity.

The arrival of artificial intelligence could further exacerbate the situation, as AI can increase the gap between those who can use it and those who continue to work with their hands. Artisans could benefit by integrating AI into repetitive tasks, becoming more efficient. The next decade may see AI as the competitor, rather than a lack of willing individuals to learn these trades.