Recent research on migrant integration in Italy

ISMU annual report on migration and asylum

The ISMU Foundation published its 30th report on developing trends in migration and asylum in Italy and Europe . The report provides an overview of migration flows, demographics and citizenship recognition in Italy, including a historical overview of migration patterns and their impact on Italian society alongside an analysis of the ever-evolving regulatory framework.

It also examines key inclusion pathways, analysing migrant participation in the labour market and the role of education in migrant integration. Readers will also find statistical analysis of migration across Europe and sections on specific topics including media representation of migration and issues faced by migrants with disabilities. An in-person presentation of the report can be watched online .

Government report on unaccompanied minors

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policies published its bi-annual report on conditions and challenges related to unaccompanied migrant minors in Italy. The 2024 report shares statistics and data and features contributions from UNHCR, UNICEF and IOM.

By December, Italy had registered the arrival of 18 625 unaccompanied minors from outside Europe in 2024. The majority were male (88.4%) and aged 17 (56.8%), with others aged 16 (21%) and 7-14 (13.7%). The main countries of origin were Egypt (20.4%), Ukraine (18.8%), Gambia (11.7%), Tunisia (9.6%) and Guinea (8.1%). According to the report Sicilia remains the Italian region with the highest presence of unaccompanied minors (29.1%), followed by Lombardia (13.1%), Campania (8.5%) and Emilia-Romagna (7.7%).

The document also highlights a significant policy development in December 2024, which regulates the management of personal data in the Information System for unaccompanied migrant minors, including access rights and security measures in compliance with EU data protection regulations.

Local interventions combatting the labour exploitation of migrant workers

The National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) published the first national study examining local interventions to combat and prevent - and support third-country national (TCN) victims of - labour exploitation. The research collected responses to a survey presented to municipalities with over 15 000 inhabitants. 81.8% of municipalities responded (603 out of 737).

68.5% of responding municipalities identified sectors at high risk of labour exploitation, based on their direct experience with local services and activities. Agriculture emerges as the most affected sector, mentioned by 43.1% of municipalities, followed by construction (33.5%), domestic work (30.5%) and the restaurant industry (29.9%). Regional patterns show that TCN exploitation in agriculture is particularly problematic in Puglia, Veneto, and Sicilia, and in construction in Lombardia and Campania.

83.6% of respondents considered training programmes for municipal staff essential. Priority topics identified include different forms of labour exploitation and undeclared work, as well as national legislation on prevention and victim support.

Annual report on the national reception and integration system

The National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) published its 23rd annual report on the Reception and Integration System (SAI). According to the report, the SAI network has expanded significantly, with 872 currently active reception projects representing a 9.9% increase compared to the previous two-year period. Throughout 2024, 55 000 people were welcomed into the network's integration pathways via approximately 2 000 municipalities. Municipalities are involved either as project holders, SAI facility hosts, or partnership participants.

The report highlights that the SAI network supports beneficiaries of different legal status: approximately 11 000 hold residence permits based on asylum requests, 8 887 have special protection permits, 8 709 have been granted refugee status and approximately 6 600 hold subsidiary protection. 6 396 are minors.

9th Migration Observatory report on migrant integration in Europe

The Migration Observatory published its 9th annual report on migrant integration in Europe from an Italian perspective . The report provides comprehensive analysis of the labour market integration of first- and second-generation migrants across European countries, examining key indicators such as employment rates, occupational distribution, educational attainment and citizenship status. By presenting an up-to-date, concise and accessible overview of immigrant integration, the report contributes to a fact-based discussion on the economic role of migration in Europe.

Concerning first-generation migrants, the report compares employment and occupational disadvantages for EU and third-country nationals (TCN) migrants. The situation of second-generation migrants is examined with reference to educational achievements, employment rates, occupational mobility and the role of citizenship in shaping their labour market opportunities.

Save the Children report on young scholars with a migration background

Save the Children (STC) published a report examining the academic situation of young people with migration background , both those born or raised in Italy and recent arrivals.

According to the report, only 3.9% of university students in Italy are of foreign origin (71 675), with about half of this group represented by TCNs. A key finding is that socioeconomic conditions and parental education affect educational choices, but also that unconscious biases reproduced by school personnel play a role. According to an analysis commissioned by STC for the report, acquiring Italian citizenship reduces learning gaps and educational choice disparities between second-generation students and their peers without a migration background.

Government report on migrants in the labour market

The Minister of Labour and Social Policies published a report on the presence of TCNs in the labour market in 2024. Notably, it states that TCN employees have reached 2.5 million in Italy, representing 10.2% of the national labour force.

In 2024 the TCN employment rate dropped slightly to 57.6%, while the unemployment rate dropped to 10.2% and the inactivity rate remained stable at 31.7%. A significant gender gap persists, with the employment rate of TCN women almost 30% lower than that of TCN men. The report finds that the sector with the highest concentration of migrant workers is "collective and personal services" (including domestic care) at 30%, followed by agriculture (20%), hotels and restaurants (18.5%) and construction (16.9%).

Policy brief on migrant labour market integration

The Forum of International and European Research on Immigration (FIERI) published a comprehensive policy brief within the framework of EU Horizon project "Dignity Firm". The brief outlines recommendations for improving migrant labour market integration, addressing the need to prevent misuse of regular entry channels while expanding legitimate pathways for migrant workers.

One key recommendation involves issuing residence permits for job-seeking periods to migrant workers who arrive in Italy with entry visas but can no longer count on interested employers due to excessive time elapsed since application submission. This mechanism, already successfully employed in regularisation procedures when employers become unavailable during contract finalisation, could be extended to labour entry processes as a proven alternative to irregularity.