Business
Italy to Create 500,000 Jobs for Foreigners by 2028: Opportunities for Indians Explained
Rome – In response to mounting labour shortages, the Italian government has approved a new migration decree allowing nearly 500,000 foreign nationals, including Indian citizens, to legally enter the country by 2028.
The plan, approved by Italy’s cabinet on Monday, permits 164,850 new entries in 2025 and targets a total of 497,550 over four years. This marks the second major migration reform under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has now authorised over 950,000 legal entries since taking office in 2022.
Despite her coalition’s tough stance on undocumented migration, Meloni's government has acknowledged the need for foreign labour to sustain Italy’s ageing population and address shortages in key sectors. The decree applies to seasonal and non-seasonal workers, home carers, and highly skilled professionals.
???????? Labour Demands Across Italy
The Italian economy faces significant shortfalls across various industries:
258,000 workers needed in services (trade, hospitality)
45,000 doctors and 65,000 nurses in healthcare
280,000 skilled workers in engineering and green sectors
Growing demand for AI, cybersecurity, and data science specialists
India–Italy: A Natural Synergy
Speaking at the launch of the GATI Foundation in New Delhi, Italian Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli highlighted the demographic link between the two nations.
“Italy’s population is ageing—23% are over 65, expected to rise to 34% by 2050. Meanwhile, India will add over 120 million working-age citizens by 2040,” Bartoli noted.
He emphasized that this “structural synergy” offers India a strong opportunity to help meet Italy’s labour needs, especially through legal migration pathways.
Focus on Legal Migration
The decree also aims to reduce irregular migration, offering incentives to countries that support regulated migration and launch public awareness campaigns against unsafe routes.
“We want legal migration that aligns with labour market needs—not flows controlled by traffickers,” Bartoli stressed.
Currently, around 167,000 Indians reside in Italy, and the number is expected to rise under this new policy.
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