Work-life in Italy: Here’s what you need to know about finding a job in your dream country
Planning a move to Italy? Here’s what you need to know about finding a job.
Italy is often considered one of the most beautiful countries in the world. And their culture and food are widely appreciated. So it’s easy to see why so many people dream of moving to Italy.
But if you do decide to move to Italy, what can you do for work? And how can you find a job? Here are some of the most common questions people ask when considering working in Italy:
- What are the benefits of working in Italy?
- What are job opportunities available in Italy?
- How can you get work?
- Some things you must know while working in Italy?
Whether you are planning a new move to Italy or are already living there, the the answers to these questions will help you find the right job more quickly. And that’s what we’ll help to answer in this article.
What are the benefits of working in Italy?
If you are planning to move to Italy, it’s likely that you will be looking for work there, and it’s important to know your rights. To help you, we have created a list of some of the benefits you will be entitled to.
Working hours and paid time off
The government has put special restrictions on working hours to improve workers’ quality of life. You are entitled to work 40 hours per week with two hours overtime per day. There are also 12 public holidays, and you are entitled to take four weeks of paid leave.
Many people take two weeks of paid leave during Christmas and the rest of their holiday in August. But if you don’t want to take leave at any time, you can carry forward your leave until next year.
Minimum wage
There is no minimum wage rate in Italy. Your role and type of work define your wages or salary structure. For example, if you are working in metalwork, hospitality, food, or the insurance sector, your hourly wage could be around 7 euros, based on your agreement. And if you are working in the agriculture sector, it can be €874.65 per month.
Every employer is responsible for providing a salary that helps the employee to live a decent lifestyle.
Right to get citizenship
When you are moving to Italy for work, you will eventually get the right to live permanently in Italy. That’s because the Italian government offers citizenship to people who have completed ten years of work in Italy.
You can also approach experts for Assistance on Italian Citizenship; their guidance can help you get citizenship more quickly if you wish. There are two other ways to be a permanent resident in Italy, and the experts can guide you on which method suits you best.
Once you get Italian citizenship, you can take up other benefits such as the right to vote and elect politicians.
Social security
Once you get the right to reside in the country, you can enjoy social security benefits in Italy. These include healthcare, employment, unemployment, family benefits, old-age, disability, invalidity, and more. But to enjoy social security benefits, you must have a social security number.
This number helps you to contribute to national social security, and will repay you in other forms of amenities. Even if you have applied for Italian citizenship, you can get an SSN (social security number).
Leave
Whether you are a mother or father, while working you are entitled to different types of leave, some of them paid and some unpaid. Here are some types of leave you may be entitled to.
Maternity and paternity leave
Mothers are entitled to take five months of leave. These can be either divided into two months of leave before delivery and three months after delivery, or taken as a full five months after you give birth.
During maternity leave, the INPS (Istituto Nazionale della previdenza sociale) and your employer contribute toward your salary in an 80:20 ratio. Mother can also take additional six months of leave if they wish. In this period, INPS will contribute 30% of your salary.
There are another five days paternity leave which is offered to mother and father, which could be taken between five months from childbirth until your child is 12 years of age. Up to six months of parental leave can be taken anytime by parents (for single parents, it increases to 10 months). During this period, you will earn a 30% allowance of your wages.
Sick pay
If, due to any illness or sickness, you can’t work, you can get 50% of your basic wages from four to 20 days of leave. After this, the sick pay compensation amount will be 66%of your wages. You need a valid doctor’s certificate in order to get sick leave benefits.
What jobs are available in Italy?
In Italy, there is a good demand for skilled workers. So if you work in the health sector, you can find work as a doctor, nurse or physiotherapist, based on your qualifications. But first you will need to complete special qualifications from Italy in order to properly understand their healthcare system.
Some other areas, such as digital marketing, mathematics, sales, and computing, are in high demand. In this instance you just need to find a company who needs your skills and offers an attractive employment package.
Italy is also known as a hotspot for tourists around the globe. Which means that there is a high demand for experts in hotel management, and people willing to work in bars and restaurants. Working in hotels can sometimes come with good pay, including extra tips from tourists.
Due to the high number of tourists in Italy, many Italian people want to learn English. So there’s also a healthy demand for English teachers either as private tutors or in schools.
Where can you find the best jobs in Italy?
When you are searching for job opportunities, it can help to divide the country into different areas where different types of industries typically flourish.
For example, if you want to work in marketing, IT, technology, industry, fashion, or similar, you may want to search for roles in Northern Italy job. Many industries in Milan can offer you lucrative job opportunities.
If you are interested in the tourism field or related to public administration, it can be good to go with jobs in Florence, Italy. And there are many lively textile industries in Tuscany that make your job search process more convenient.
Who can help you to find a job in Italy?
If you are new in Italy, you may be struggling to find the right job for your skills or financial or other needs. But there are always plenty of ways to find work – if you know what they are! Here are some resources for finding work in Italy that you may find helpful:
- Sites: There are many websites and social media platforms that publish job vacancies or information in Italy. You can search them for valuable tips (such as what employers may look for on a resume), leads for job hunting resources, or even current job openings.
- Info jobs: This is one of the most popular websites on which you’ll find job opportunities in almost every field. You just need to add a company role in the search bar, and you’ll be able to see what openings are available.
- Linkedin: Linkedin connects people with companies, and you can use the platform to look for roles or connect with companies from anywhere in the world.
- Bakeca: Whether you are looking for work, house, services, car, or any other type of product or service, this platform can help you find instant results.
- Kijiji: This website is a part of eBay. You can find anything from spare parts to part-time jobs here, with jobs divided into different categories.
There are some other options for your help to find the right job you can also try. Some of them include:
- Job agencies: Many private agencies solely work to provide employment. You can approach them for temporary or permanent job opportunities.
- Public job center: Public job centers work to place the right person at the right place. They can help you find employment in a specific city or province.
- Family and friends: If you are lucky enough to have family or friends in Italy you can also ask them to suggest job opportunities.
More tips to help you find a job in Italy
Whether you are looking for a specific type of job, in a particular sector or even at a narrow area of Italy or chosen city or town, here are some more tips can help you find work in Italy:
- There are some activities which are conducted during specific seasons. For instance, the tomato harvesting season falls from June to August. During this season, there is a high demand for skilled and unskilled staff, giving you the chance to earn extra income, if you wish.
- Usually, during the spring and summer seasons in southern Italy, many vacancies are created in hotels, bars, restaurants every year. So, if you are living in those cities, see who is hiring.
- “Centri per L’Impiego” is a government body. If you need assistance, you can also approach them for help and job offers.
- Make the most of festival seasons. Some holidays, like Christmas eve are celebrated in Italy with enthusiasm. During these periods, many people take leave from their work, and may well travel home to see their families. So there may be opportunities to pick up part time work standing in for people then.
Ready to look for work in Italy?
Getting a job abroad is not difficult if you have good knowledge about job opportunities, how you can find work, and who can help you. So if you’re hoping to move to Italy and find work, we hope you’ve found this information helpful.
