Migrant workers’ access to employment and working conditions in Italy

PRIME Snapshot

Based on 303 interviews across Milan, Naples, and Trieste, this Protection of Irregular Migrants in Europe (PRIME) snapshot explores the realities of migrant workers in Italy, focusing on how legal status shapes access to employment and working conditions.

The findings reveal that migrants – especially those in irregular situations – face major barriers to decent work. Most are employed in unskilled and informal sectors with limited labour rights, low pay, and no written contracts. The study also shows how word-of-mouth networks determine job access, often reinforcing inequality within Italy’s labour market. As the country faces workforce shortages and demographic decline, understanding the experiences of migrant workers in Italy is essential for inclusive labour policies.

Part of the Protection of Irregular Migrants in Europe (PRIME) project, funded by the European Union.