The economic contribution of migrants in Italy: 154 billion euros, which is 9% of the GDP
In the Italian economic and demographic context, the 13th Annual Report on the Economy of Immigration, presented in Rome by the Leone Moressa Foundation, provides interesting data on the contribution of foreign citizens to Italian society. The foreign population residing in Italy remains stable at around 5 million, representing 8.6% of the total population. “Immigration significantly contributes to the economic growth of the country and the diversification of the labour market, providing development opportunities for both Italian and foreign citizens.
The entry for employment is on the rise, with 2022 witnessing the issuance of a record number of 338,000 residence permits in Italy. This increase is primarily due to entries for employment, which represent almost 20% of the total. In 2022, 67,000 foreigners entered Italy for work reasons, thanks to the 2021 Decree on Flows issued by the Draghi government. These numbers are expected to increase in the coming years, with the Meloni government projecting 122,000 entries for employment in 2023 and 452,000 in the 2024-2026 period.
Italy is gradually strengthening its labour market thanks to the increasing participation of migrants. The report reveals that the labour market is recovering, with the employment rate of foreigners (60.6%) surpassing that of Italians (60.1%). There are 2.4 million foreign workers in Italy, with a significant concentration in manual labour. It is evident that foreign workers contribute to the Italian economy by generating 154.3 billion euros of Value Added, equivalent to 9% of the GDP, with a substantial impact in the Agriculture and Construction sectors.
Furthermore, the number of entrepreneurs continues to grow, reaching 761,000 in 2022, which represents 10.1% of the total. This steady increase is particularly pronounced in the Central-Northern regions and in the sectors of construction, commerce, and catering. The fiscal contribution is significant: 4.3 million foreign taxpayers declared incomes totalling 64 billion euros in 2022, paying 9.6 billion euros in personal income tax (Irpef).