Nearly one in five workers in Italy, the highest rate in the European Union, is trapped in temporary or part-time contracts against their will. This figure has grown 6% since 2006, creating significant job instability for a substantial portion of the Italian workforce, according to Euronews. Almost one in five Italian workers involuntarily hold these precarious contracts, indicating the highest levels of job instability within the EU, states IndexBox.

The overall rate of involuntary non-standard employment in Europe has fallen from 11% in 2006 to around 9% in 2024, after peaking at 13% in 2015, according to Euronews.com. Italy's rate, however, simultaneously increased to become the highest in the EU, diverging sharply from the general European trend.

Based on Italy's persistent high rates and growth in involuntary non-standard employment, coupled with successful policy interventions in other EU nations, Italy's labor market is likely to continue struggling with job quality and worker precarity without significant structural reforms.

A Precarious Picture Across Europe

  • Spain follows Italy with 17% of involuntary non-standard employment, while Cyprus, Portugal, and Greece all exceed 12%, according to Euronews.
  • The overall rate of involuntary non-standard employment in Europe has declined from 11% in 2006 to around 9% in 2024, after peaking at 13% in 2015, reports Euronews.com.
  • In the Netherlands, 45% of part-time workers voluntarily chose that over a full-time contract, states IndexBox.

While involuntary non-standard employment is a broader European issue, Italy's situation is particularly acute. The country's growing reliance on involuntary part-time work contrasts sharply with the general EU trend of decline and the voluntary nature of part-time employment seen in some nations, like the Netherlands.

Policy vs. Persistence: Why Italy Lags

Poland has significantly reduced its involuntary non-standard employment rate from almost 22% in 2006 to 7% in 2024, according to Euronews. This reduction resulted from labor code changes that restricted temporary contracts and increased their taxation. Poland's success demonstrates that targeted policy intervention can reverse negative trends in precarious work.