Emilia-Romagna’s industry is a cornerstone of regional jobs, output, and innovation. Explore how mechanical engineering, food processing, and ceramics shape employment, exports, and R&D spending. You’ll also see where value concentrates—from manufacturing’s share of regional GDP to the scale of key export categories and the strength of industrial clusters across the region.
Key Takeaways
- Emilia-Romagna's industrial sector employed 512,000 workers in 2022, representing 25% of regional employment
- Mechanical sector jobs in the region totaled 145,000 in 2023
- Food industry employment stood at 78,000 in Emilia-Romagna in 2022
- Emilia-Romagna's industrial exports reached €48.7 billion in 2022, 35% of regional total exports
- Mechanical products exports from the region totaled €25.4 billion in 2023
- Food and beverage exports hit €10.2 billion in 2022
- Emilia-Romagna industrial R&D spending was €4.2 billion in 2022, 8.1% of national total
- Mechanical firms invested €1.8 billion in R&D in 2023
- Food industry R&D expenditure reached €450 million in 2022
- In 2022, Emilia-Romagna's manufacturing industry contributed €52.3 billion to the regional GDP, representing 28.4% of the total regional economy
- The mechanical engineering sector in Emilia-Romagna produced machinery worth €28.1 billion in 2023, accounting for 22% of Italy's national total
- Emilia-Romagna's food processing industry output reached €15.7 billion in turnover in 2022, with a growth of 4.2% year-over-year
- Emilia-Romagna mechanical industry has 12,500 firms, 18% of Italy's total
- Food processing includes 4,200 companies employing 78,000 in 2022
- Ceramics district in Sassuolo has 250 firms producing 4.5 billion sqm tiles yearly
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Statistics29 stats
01
Emilia-Romagna's industrial sector employed 512,000 workers in 2022, representing 25% of regional employment
02
Mechanical sector jobs in the region totaled 145,000 in 2023
03
Food industry employment stood at 78,000 in Emilia-Romagna in 2022
04
Ceramics industry employed 32,000 workers in 2023, with 15% female workforce
05
Automotive sector jobs numbered 68,000 in the region in 2022
06
Chemical industry employment was 42,000 in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
07
Electronics jobs totaled 28,500 in 2022
08
Textile employment in the region was 35,000 in 2023
09
Furniture sector employed 22,000 workers in Emilia-Romagna in 2022
10
Packaging industry jobs stood at 19,000 in 2023
11
Biomedical employment was 15,200 in the region in 2022
12
Rubber and plastics jobs totaled 38,000 in 2023
13
Metal products sector employed 52,000 in Emilia-Romagna in 2022
14
Energy equipment jobs were 24,000 in 2023
15
Agricultural machinery employment stood at 18,500 in 2022
16
Pharmaceutical sector jobs numbered 31,000 in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
17
Glass and cement employment was 14,800 in 2022
18
Precision instruments jobs totaled 12,300 in 2023
19
Leather goods sector employed 9,200 workers in 2022
20
Printing industry jobs stood at 16,500 in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
21
Wood processing employment was 11,000 in 2022
22
Non-metallic minerals jobs totaled 28,400 in 2023
23
Electrical equipment employment was 26,700 in 2022
24
Vehicle assembly jobs numbered 45,200 in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
25
Food packaging machinery employment stood at 14,000 in 2022
26
Ceramics machinery jobs were 8,900 in 2023
27
Plastics machinery sector employed 17,600 in 2022
28
Average industrial wage in Emilia-Romagna was €32,500 annually in 2022
29
Youth employment rate in manufacturing was 12.5% in 2023
02 · Category
Export Data28 stats
01
Emilia-Romagna's industrial exports reached €48.7 billion in 2022, 35% of regional total exports
02
Mechanical products exports from the region totaled €25.4 billion in 2023
03
Food and beverage exports hit €10.2 billion in 2022
04
Ceramic tiles exported €4.8 billion worth in 2023, 85% of production
05
Automotive parts exports were €9.1 billion in 2022
06
Chemicals exports from Emilia-Romagna reached €6.3 billion in 2023
07
Electronics exports totaled €4.7 billion in 2022
08
Textiles exports were €2.9 billion in 2023
09
Furniture exports hit €2.6 billion in 2022
10
Packaging exports stood at €3.4 billion in 2023
11
Biomedical exports were €2.1 billion in 2022
12
Plastics exports totaled €5.2 billion in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
13
Metal products exports reached €7.8 billion in 2022
14
Energy equipment exports were €3.5 billion in 2023
15
Agricultural machinery exports hit €2.4 billion in 2022
16
Pharmaceuticals exports totaled €7.2 billion in 2023
17
Glass products exports were €1.9 billion in 2022
18
Precision instruments exports stood at €1.3 billion in 2023
19
Leather exports reached €1.1 billion in Emilia-Romagna in 2022
20
Printed materials exports were €1.6 billion in 2023
21
Wood products exports totaled €1.2 billion in 2022
22
Minerals exports hit €4.5 billion in 2023
23
Electrical goods exports were €3.9 billion in 2022
24
Vehicles exports reached €8.6 billion in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
25
Packaging machinery exports totaled €2.1 billion in 2022
26
Ceramics machinery exports were €1.0 billion in 2023
27
Plastics machinery exports stood at €2.3 billion in 2022
28
Top export markets for Emilia-Romagna industry: Germany 18%, USA 12%, France 11% in 2023
03 · Category
Investment And R&d28 stats
01
Emilia-Romagna industrial R&D spending was €4.2 billion in 2022, 8.1% of national total
02
Mechanical firms invested €1.8 billion in R&D in 2023
03
Food industry R&D expenditure reached €450 million in 2022
04
Ceramics sector R&D investment was €220 million in 2023
05
Automotive R&D spending totaled €950 million in Emilia-Romagna in 2022
06
Chemicals R&D investment hit €680 million in 2023
07
Electronics R&D was €410 million in 2022
08
Textiles R&D expenditure stood at €280 million in 2023
09
Furniture R&D investment was €190 million in 2022
10
Packaging R&D reached €320 million in 2023
11
Biomedical R&D spending totaled €580 million in Emilia-Romagna in 2022
12
Plastics R&D was €450 million in 2023
13
Metal products R&D investment hit €620 million in 2022
14
Energy equipment R&D stood at €310 million in 2023
15
Ag machinery R&D was €260 million in 2022
16
Pharma R&D expenditure reached €1.2 billion in 2023
17
Glass R&D investment was €150 million in 2022
18
Precision tools R&D totaled €210 million in 2023
19
Leather R&D was €95 million in 2022
20
Printing R&D investment stood at €140 million in 2023
21
Wood R&D reached €120 million in 2022
22
Minerals R&D was €380 million in 2023
23
Electrical R&D investment hit €450 million in 2022
24
Vehicles R&D totaled €780 million in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
25
Packaging machinery R&D was €180 million in 2022
26
Ceramics machinery R&D stood at €110 million in 2023
27
Plastics machinery R&D reached €240 million in 2022
28
4,200 industrial patents filed from Emilia-Romagna in 2022
More related reading
04 · Category
Production And Output29 stats
01
In 2022, Emilia-Romagna's manufacturing industry contributed €52.3 billion to the regional GDP, representing 28.4% of the total regional economy
02
The mechanical engineering sector in Emilia-Romagna produced machinery worth €28.1 billion in 2023, accounting for 22% of Italy's national total
03
Emilia-Romagna's food processing industry output reached €15.7 billion in turnover in 2022, with a growth of 4.2% year-over-year
04
Ceramic tile production in Emilia-Romagna totaled 85.2 million square meters in Q1 2023, holding 80% of Italy's market share
05
Automotive components manufacturing in the region generated €12.4 billion in value added in 2022
06
Emilia-Romagna's chemical industry output was €8.9 billion in 2023, up 3.1% from 2022
07
Electronics and mechatronics sector in Emilia-Romagna achieved €6.5 billion in production value in 2022
08
Textile and apparel industry output in the region stood at €4.2 billion in 2023, with exports comprising 65%
09
Furniture manufacturing in Emilia-Romagna produced €3.8 billion worth of goods in 2022
10
Packaging industry turnover in Emilia-Romagna reached €5.1 billion in 2023, growing 5.8%
11
Biomedical devices production value in the region was €2.7 billion in 2022
12
Rubber and plastics sector output totaled €7.3 billion in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
13
Metal products manufacturing contributed €10.2 billion to regional output in 2022
14
Energy equipment production in Emilia-Romagna was valued at €4.6 billion in 2023
15
Agricultural machinery output reached €3.1 billion in the region in 2022
16
Pharmaceutical industry production in Emilia-Romagna hit €9.4 billion in 2023
17
Glass and cement sector output was €2.8 billion in 2022
18
Precision instruments manufacturing generated €1.9 billion in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
19
Leather goods production value stood at €1.5 billion in the region in 2022
20
Printing and publishing industry output was €2.3 billion in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
21
Wood processing sector produced €1.8 billion worth in 2022
22
Non-metallic minerals industry output reached €6.7 billion in 2023
23
Electrical equipment manufacturing was €5.4 billion in Emilia-Romagna in 2022
24
Vehicle assembly production value hit €11.2 billion in the region in 2023
25
Food packaging machinery output totaled €2.9 billion in 2022
26
Ceramics machinery production was €1.4 billion in Emilia-Romagna in 2023
27
Plastics machinery sector generated €3.2 billion in 2022
28
Regional industrial production index rose 2.8% in 2023 compared to 2022
29
Emilia-Romagna manufacturing PMI averaged 52.1 in 2023, indicating expansion
05 · Category
Sector Profiles26 stats
01
Emilia-Romagna mechanical industry has 12,500 firms, 18% of Italy's total
02
Food processing includes 4,200 companies employing 78,000 in 2022
03
Ceramics district in Sassuolo has 250 firms producing 4.5 billion sqm tiles yearly
04
Automotive cluster in Modena/Bologna has 5,000 SMEs supporting Ferrari/Lamborghini
05
Chemical sector comprises 1,800 firms with €8.9B turnover in 2023
06
Electronics/mechatronics has 2,100 companies, focus on automation
07
Textile/apparel district in Carpi has 3,500 firms, €4.2B output
08
Furniture in Ravenna/Forli has 1,900 firms, strong in design exports
09
Packaging cluster around Bologna has 1,200 companies, innovative materials
10
Biomedical in Bologna/Modena has 850 firms, leader in medical devices
11
Plastics/rubber sector: 2,400 firms, €7.3B production in 2023
12
Metalworking has 6,200 SMEs, key for machine tools
13
Energy tech firms number 1,100, focus on renewables
14
Ag machinery cluster in Reggio Emilia has 450 firms
15
Pharma has 120 major plants, €9.4B output
16
Glass/cement: 650 firms in Modena area
17
Precision instruments: 900 high-tech firms
18
Leather in Ferrara has 700 artisanal firms
19
Printing: 1,400 firms, digital transition leader
20
Wood processing: 1,050 firms in Appennino area
21
Non-metallics: 1,700 firms, ceramics dominant
22
Electrical equipment: 1,500 firms, wiring harnesses specialty
23
Vehicle OEMs and suppliers: 2,800 firms total
24
Packaging machinery: 450 world leaders in Bologna
25
Ceramics machinery: 200 firms in Modena
26
Plastics machinery: 650 firms, extrusion tech focus
report visual · Comparison
Emilia-Romagna Industry Statistics statistics snapshot
Selected headline statistics from verified sources for a stable visual baseline.
Mechanical sector jobs in the region totaled 145,000 in 2023145,000
Food industry employment stood at 78,000 in Emilia-Romagna in 202278,000
Automotive sector jobs numbered 68,000 in the region in 202268,000
Chemical industry employment was 42,000 in Emilia-Romagna in 202342,000
Emilia-Romagna's industrial sector employed 512,000 workers in 2022, representing 25% of regional employment25%
Ceramics industry employed 32,000 workers in 2023, with 15% female workforce15%
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Emilia-Romagna Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/emilia-romagna-industry-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Emilia-Romagna Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/emilia-romagna-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Emilia-Romagna Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/emilia-romagna-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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