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How to turn an idea into your own business: a free training programme
A free training and support programme for those wishing to set up their own business is set to begin in October. 📚 100 hours of training — entirely online. The programme is aimed at young people aged 18 to 35 who are not in work, are looking for work or are unemployed, as well as young participants in the GOL programme who meet the necessary requirements. 💡 The programme covers: • business ideas and business models; • market and customer analysis; • marketing and sales; • costs, revenue and financial sustainability; • drawing up a business plan; • preparing to apply for potential support to set up your own business, including Resto al Sud 2.0. 👥 Training format: 🔹 60 hours of group training 🔹 40 hours of individual support 👩🏫 Tutor — Maryna Sydorova. She has experience in business, exports, project management, career guidance and teaching. 📩 A group is currently being formed for October. If you’re interested, please message me directly to check whether you meet the requirements and to receive further details. 📲 WhatsApp: 327 697 4060
Almost 2.6 million foreign nationals work in Italy – that is more than 10 per cent of the total workforce
The role of foreign workers in Italy continues to grow. In 2025, there were almost 2.6 million foreign nationals working in the country — accounting for 10.7 per cent of the total workforce. Moreover, it was foreign workers who accounted for a significant proportion of the growth in employment: the number of non-EU nationals in employment rose by 3.6 per cent, EU nationals by 1.2 per cent, and Italians by 0.5 per cent. 👷 Where do migrants most commonly work? 🔹 Other collective and personal services — foreign nationals account for 29.8 per cent of workers in this sector. 🔹 Agriculture — 21.5 per cent of workers are foreign nationals. 🔹 Hotels and restaurants — 19.2 per cent. 🔹 Construction — 17.9 per cent. At the same time, the proportion of foreign workers is significantly lower in the financial and insurance sectors — 1.6 per cent, in information and communication services — 3.1 per cent, and in public administration — just 0.3 per cent. 📈 Italy is increasingly in need of foreign workers In 2025, Italian companies planned to hire over 1.3 million foreign workers — a record figure and around 23 per cent of all planned hires. At the same time, in roughly half of all cases, employers found it difficult to find suitable candidates. In other words, the Italian economy needs foreign workers not just today — demand for them continues to grow. However, there remains a gap in unemployment rates between foreign nationals and Italians. In 2025, it stood at 9.6 per cent amongst non-EU nationals, 7.8 per cent amongst EU nationals and 5.8 per cent amongst Italians. The gap is particularly pronounced among women: the employment rate for women from non-EU countries stood at just 45.7 per cent, compared with 76 per cent for men. For Ukrainians, this means that the Italian labour market is gradually opening up more opportunities, not only in traditional sectors such as care work, cleaning, agriculture, catering and construction. Professional skills, qualifications and services that migrants can offer independently are becoming increasingly important. 💙💛 It is therefore important not only to look for work, but also to showcase one’s professional skills. It is worth noting that on the UA Service HUB platform, Ukrainian specialists in Italy can showcase their services, experience and portfolios, and find clients both in their own city and beyond.
Mykhailo Fedorov will remain in Ukraine, despite his role as an adviser to the Italian Minister of Defence
The press office of Ukraine’s former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has explained his appointment as an adviser to the Italian Defence Minister, Guido Crozetto, on defence innovation. They emphasised that Fedorov’s previous position does not impose any restrictions on his work as an adviser to the government of another state. His role does not involve the disclosure of state secrets, the transfer of classified information or technical documentation with restricted access. The press office noted that the engagement of former senior officials as experts and advisers to foreign governments is common international practice. According to the press service, Fedorov will focus primarily on sharing managerial and expert experience in the field of technological warfare and defence innovation. “Such cooperation is also important for Ukraine, as it deepens collaboration with NATO countries and their defence industries, and creates new opportunities for Ukrainian defence-tech companies, joint development projects and investment ventures,” the press office stated. They also emphasised that Fedorov will continue to live and work in Ukraine. His main focus will remain on assisting Ukraine in the war against Russia. According to the press office, Fedorov plans to pursue other international projects in parallel, including the development of a think tank and an innovation fund that will invest in Ukrainian technologies and weaponry. As a reminder, on 28 August, Fedorov announced that he had accepted Guido Crozetto’s offer to become his adviser.
Mikhail Fedorov has been offered the post of adviser to the Italian Minister of Defence
Italy’s Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, has offered Ukraine’s former Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, a position as an adviser in Rome. Crosetto revealed this in an interview with the Italian newspaper *la Repubblica*, according to Reuters. According to the Italian minister, he rang Fedorov the day after his dismissal and said: “When would you like to come to Rome and work with me as an adviser?” Crozetto praised Fedorov’s role in modernising Ukraine’s defence sector, particularly the development of military technology and the use of drones. He described him as one of the people who had “completely changed the rules of the game on the battlefield”. Fedorov, aged 35, previously headed the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. His dismissal caused a significant public outcry in Ukraine. According to media reports, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had also offered him other roles within his team, but Fedorov stated that he was not prepared to accept any position other than that of Defence Minister. The Italian offer has become a symbol of support and recognition of his expertise in the field of defence innovation.
Staffing crisis in Italy: there is a shortage of IT specialists, construction workers and drivers
The paradox of the Italian labour market is becoming increasingly apparent: the number of job vacancies is rising, yet it is becoming ever more difficult to find staff for many professions. The labour shortage affects not only high-tech sectors but also quite ordinary professions — from bus drivers and healthcare workers to construction workers, tourism staff and those in the cultural sector. According to Italian media reports (Rai News, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica and La Stampa), the labour shortage in Piedmont’s transport sector is forcing employers to look for staff outside Italy. For example, the bus company Atap, which operates in the provinces of Biella and Vercelli, has begun recruiting new drivers in Morocco. To this end, a special project to attract foreign workers has been launched with the support of the Moroccan Consulate. The reason is an acute staff shortage. The region needs over 8,000 drivers, whilst there are only around 5,300 potential candidates. The situation is no better in the healthcare system. The Piedmont region is short of more than 6,000 doctors and nurses, whilst there are just over 4,300 available specialists. This is precisely why healthcare facilities are increasingly recruiting staff from abroad, and current legislation allows doctors to work until the age of 72–73. At the same time, demand for IT specialists is also growing. The region needs over 2,500 software developers, but it has not yet been possible to find the required number of specialists. According to UA Service Hub, the staff shortage is particularly acute in the tourism and culture sectors. Indeed, there are only 183 potential candidates for nearly 21,000 vacancies. These include tour guides, librarians, entertainers, sound engineers, and staff at museums and exhibition centres — professions without which the tourism sector cannot function properly. There is also a shortage of skilled construction workers and manual labourers. At the same time, the opposite situation is observed for low-skilled roles. For example, more than 12,000 people are applying for unskilled industrial jobs, whilst employers are offering fewer than 4,000 vacancies. Experts note that the situation in the labour market is changing not only due to technological developments. Key factors include an ageing population, demographic decline, the rapid growth of the service sector, and a shift in young people’s attitudes towards professions involving heavy physical labour or low pay. Today, Italy is increasingly facing a new reality: simply creating jobs is no longer enough. The main question is a different one — where to find people who are willing to take them.
Popular services of Ukrainians in Italy | UA Service Hub
In the short time since the UA Service Hub platform (work.crasa.team) went live, a clear picture has already emerged of the demand among Ukrainians living in Italy. The service is aimed primarily at Ukrainian refugees and migrants who are actively integrating into European society and looking for work, clients and essential services. Analytics have shown that the most popular requests are generated not in Ukraine, but in Italy, where the Ukrainian community is one of the largest in Europe. People need fast, clear and accessible services from their own Ukrainian-speaking specialists. Culinary services and food preparation are in the highest demand. Ukrainians in Italy are actively seeking home cooks, catering, baking and the preparation of traditional dishes. This is linked both to nostalgia for home cooking and to the demand for catering services for events within the diaspora. Second place is taken by dressmaking and seamstress services. Many Ukrainian craftswomen work in this field, and demand is driven by the desire to obtain high-quality, bespoke clothing or have items repaired without a language barrier. Home handyman services consistently take third place. In Italy, Ukrainians often work in the domestic services sector, so requests for repairs, plumbing, electrical work and appliance installation are constantly in demand. It is also worth highlighting the growing demand for the services of photographers, videographers and editors. Ukrainians in Italy are actively developing businesses, blogs and personal brands, as well as organising events — and they need high-quality content. The UA Service Hub platform was created as a single space for finding and providing services amongst Ukrainians in Italy. It helps users quickly find a service provider without a language barrier, negotiate directly and receive high-quality service from trusted specialists. The work.crasa.team service is becoming an important tool for integrating Ukrainians into their new environment, bringing together supply and demand in one place.