Italy’s manufacturing employed 3.72 million people in 2022, down 0.8% from the prior year. Manufacturing exports reached €251.6 billion in 2022, rising 11.8% as machinery and autos helped lead growth. The labor mix remains uneven, with women at 28.4% of manufacturing employment and youth employment at 12.1%, while average hourly labor costs climbed to €28.5.
Key Takeaways
- Italy's manufacturing employment totaled 3.72 million in 2022, down 0.8% from 2021
- Manufacturing workforce in Lombardy region: 850,000 employees in 2022
- Average hourly labor cost in manufacturing €28.5 in 2022, up 4.2%
- Italy's manufacturing exports totaled €251.6 billion in 2022, up 11.8%
- Machinery exports from Italy €57.2 billion in 2022, 22.7% of total manufacturing exports
- Automotive exports €51.4 billion in 2022, growth 14.2%
- R&D expenditure in manufacturing €18.4 billion in 2022, 6.2% of total GDP R&D
- Private investment in manufacturing tangible goods €45.2 billion in 2022, up 8.1%
- Public funding for manufacturing innovation €2.8 billion via PNRR in 2022-2026
- In 2022, Italy's manufacturing production index stood at 105.3 (2015=100), marking a 1.8% increase from 2021
- The manufacturing sector contributed 15.8% to Italy's GDP in 2022, amounting to €297.5 billion
- Industrial production in Italy grew by 2.1% year-over-year in Q4 2023, driven by machinery and metal products
- Automotive components sector share 18% of manufacturing output in 2022
- Mechanical engineering 28% of manufacturing value added in 2022, €82.4 billion
- Chemicals and pharma 17.5% of manufacturing GDP contribution 2022
Italy’s manufacturing workforce slipped slightly in 2022, while exports surged to record levels.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Statistics29 stats
01
Italy's manufacturing employment totaled 3.72 million in 2022, down 0.8% from 2021
02
Manufacturing workforce in Lombardy region: 850,000 employees in 2022
03
Average hourly labor cost in manufacturing €28.5 in 2022, up 4.2%
04
Female employment in manufacturing 28.4% of total in 2022
05
Youth employment (15-29) in manufacturing 12.1% in 2022, down 1.5%
06
Temporary contracts in manufacturing 15.7% of workforce in 2022
07
Manufacturing R&D personnel 145,000 in 2022
08
Apprenticeships in manufacturing 180,000 in 2022, growth 8.2%
09
Unemployment rate in manufacturing sector 5.2% in 2022
10
Part-time workers in manufacturing 14.3% in 2022
11
Skilled workers (high qualification) 32.6% in manufacturing 2022
12
Machinery sector employment 1.1 million in 2022
13
Automotive manufacturing jobs 250,000 in 2022, down 3.1%
14
Chemical industry workforce 190,000 in 2022
15
Food manufacturing employees 400,000 in 2022
16
Textile employment 350,000 in 2022, decline 4.5%
17
Metalworking jobs 780,000 in 2022
18
Electronics manufacturing employment 220,000 in 2022
19
Furniture sector workforce 320,000 in 2022
20
Pharmaceutical employees 65,000 in 2022, +5.8%
21
Plastics industry jobs 180,000 in 2022
22
Steel sector employment 35,000 in 2022, down 7.2%
23
Ceramics workforce 75,000 in 2022
24
Leather goods jobs 65,000 in 2022
25
Shipbuilding employment 18,000 in 2022
26
Aerospace jobs 45,000 in 2022, +12.5%
27
Average manufacturing wage €32,100 annually in 2022
28
Labor productivity in manufacturing €52,400 per worker in 2022, up 2.3%
29
Manufacturing absenteeism rate 6.8% in 2022
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Italy's manufacturing sector presents a picture of resilient, high-cost craftsmanship where productivity is rising and apprenticeships are flourishing, yet it grapples with an aging, predominantly male workforce in traditional industries while futuristic sectors like aerospace soar.
02 · Category
Export and Import Data26 stats
01
Italy's manufacturing exports totaled €251.6 billion in 2022, up 11.8%
02
Machinery exports from Italy €57.2 billion in 2022, 22.7% of total manufacturing exports
03
Automotive exports €51.4 billion in 2022, growth 14.2%
04
Pharmaceutical exports €34.8 billion in 2022, +18.6%
05
Chemical products exports €28.9 billion in 2022
06
Food and beverage exports €52.1 billion in 2022, up 10.3%
07
Textiles and apparel exports €23.7 billion in 2022, decline 1.2%
08
Metal products exports €45.6 billion in 2022, +12.4%
09
Electrical equipment exports €32.1 billion in 2022
10
Furniture exports €13.8 billion in 2022, +9.7%
11
Plastics exports €12.4 billion in 2022, up 6.5%
12
Leather goods exports €6.2 billion in 2022
13
Ceramics exports €5.1 billion in 2022, +4.8%
14
Steel exports €12.7 billion in 2022, down 5.3%
15
Shipbuilding exports €4.5 billion in 2022
16
Aerospace exports €10.2 billion in 2022, +15.1%
17
EU accounted for 58.4% of Italy's manufacturing exports in 2022
18
USA share of manufacturing imports 8.7% in 2022, value €28.4 billion
19
China manufacturing imports €45.2 billion in 2022, +7.6%
20
Germany manufacturing trade surplus with Italy €15.3 billion in 2022
21
France imports from Italy manufacturing €32.6 billion in 2022
22
Manufacturing trade balance surplus €45.8 billion in 2022
23
Wine machinery exports €1.2 billion in 2022
24
Luxury goods manufacturing exports €18.4 billion in 2022
25
Italy's manufacturing imports €206.3 billion in 2022, up 16.2%
26
Energy-intensive goods imports €42.7 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Export and Import Data Interpretation
While Italy’s industrial engine hums along brilliantly, exporting everything from fine wine machinery to pharmaceuticals and proving it's far more than just a pretty boot, its persistent trade deficit with Germany and growing dependence on imported energy reveal a serious Achilles' heel wrapped in a Brioni suit.
03 · Category
Investment and R&D23 stats
01
R&D expenditure in manufacturing €18.4 billion in 2022, 6.2% of total GDP R&D
02
Private investment in manufacturing tangible goods €45.2 billion in 2022, up 8.1%
03
Public funding for manufacturing innovation €2.8 billion via PNRR in 2022-2026
04
Patent applications from manufacturing firms 12,500 in 2022
05
Venture capital in manufacturing tech €1.9 billion in 2022
06
Machinery sector R&D spend €4.2 billion (8.7% of turnover) in 2022
07
Automotive R&D investment €5.1 billion in 2022
08
Pharma R&D €4.8 billion in 2022, 9.2% of sales
09
Green tech investment in manufacturing €3.2 billion in 2022
10
Digital transformation investments €6.7 billion in 2022
11
AI adoption R&D in manufacturing €0.85 billion in 2022
12
Robotics investments €1.4 billion in 2022
13
Number of manufacturing startups 2,450 in 2022
14
Tax incentives claimed for R&D €12.3 billion credit in 2022
15
Collaborations with universities for manufacturing R&D: 4,200 projects in 2022
16
Energy efficiency investments €2.9 billion in 2022
17
Circular economy R&D €1.1 billion in 2022
18
Biotech manufacturing R&D €0.76 billion in 2022
19
Nanotech investments in manuf. €0.32 billion 2022
20
FDI in manufacturing €14.5 billion in 2022
21
Mezzogiorno manufacturing investment €8.2 billion in 2022
22
North Italy manufacturing capex €32.4 billion in 2022
23
SMEs R&D participation 68% of manufacturing firms in 2022
Interpretation
Investment and R&D Interpretation
Italy's manufacturing heart is beating with impressive vigor, investing heavily in its future, but its public funding for innovation remains the equivalent of trying to win a Formula One race with a government-subsidied Vespa.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Volume and Growth30 stats
01
In 2022, Italy's manufacturing production index stood at 105.3 (2015=100), marking a 1.8% increase from 2021
02
The manufacturing sector contributed 15.8% to Italy's GDP in 2022, amounting to €297.5 billion
03
Industrial production in Italy grew by 2.1% year-over-year in Q4 2023, driven by machinery and metal products
04
Italy produced 1.74 million tons of steel in 2022, down 8.5% from 2021 due to energy costs
05
Manufacturing turnover in Italy reached €1.12 trillion in 2022, up 18.4% from 2021
06
The production index for consumer goods in manufacturing was 102.4 in 2023 (2020=100)
07
Italy's cement production totaled 22.8 million tons in 2022, a 4.2% decline
08
Chemical manufacturing output grew 3.7% in 2022 to €65.4 billion
09
Automotive production in Italy was 795,857 vehicles in 2022, down 16.6%
10
Machinery production value hit €48.2 billion in 2022, up 12.1%
11
Food and beverage manufacturing output index at 110.2 in 2022 (2015=100)
12
Textile and apparel production declined 5.3% in 2022 to €28.1 billion
13
Plastic and rubber products output grew 4.8% to €18.7 billion in 2022
14
Electrical equipment manufacturing value €22.4 billion in 2022, up 7.2%
15
Furniture production reached €21.5 billion in 2022, +9.4%
16
Pharmaceutical manufacturing turnover €52.3 billion in 2022, growth 13.5%
17
Metal products excl. machinery output €75.6 billion, +10.2% in 2022
18
Paper and paper products production 8.9 million tons in 2022
19
Glass and ceramics output value €15.2 billion, +6.1% in 2022
20
Leather goods manufacturing €6.8 billion in 2022, down 2.1%
21
Shipbuilding output 1.2 million gross tons in 2022
22
Railway vehicles production value €3.4 billion in 2022
23
Aerospace manufacturing turnover €15.1 billion in 2022, +14.3%
24
Rubber tire production 85.6 million units in 2022
25
Aluminum production 450,000 tons in 2022
26
Printing and reproduction services €12.7 billion in 2022
27
Tobacco manufacturing €7.2 billion, stable in 2022
28
Jewelry and watches output €8.9 billion in 2022, +5.6%
29
Sports goods manufacturing €2.1 billion in 2022
30
Musical instruments production €0.45 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Production Volume and Growth Interpretation
Italy's manufacturing sector in 2022 was a classic tale of two factories: while its overall production and turnover grew robustly, this masked a dramatic internal reshuffle where energy-hungry heavyweights like steel and automotive slumped, while clever, high-value sectors like machinery, pharmaceuticals, and furniture energetically picked up the pace and profits.
05 · Category
Sector Breakdown25 stats
01
Automotive components sector share 18% of manufacturing output in 2022
02
Mechanical engineering 28% of manufacturing value added in 2022, €82.4 billion
03
Chemicals and pharma 17.5% of manufacturing GDP contribution 2022
04
Food processing 12.3% of manufacturing employment and output 2022
05
Textiles, clothing, leather 9.8% of exports from manufacturing 2022
06
Metals basic and fabricated 16.2% of production index 2022
07
Electrical and electronics 9.4% of manufacturing turnover 2022
08
Furniture and other wood 7.2% of manufacturing output 2022
09
Plastics and rubber 6.5% share of manufacturing value 2022
10
Non-metallic minerals (ceramics, glass) 5.8% of output 2022
11
Transport equipment excl. auto 4.1% of manufacturing 2022
12
Aerospace and rail 2.3% specialized manufacturing 2022
13
Paper products 3.2% of manufacturing employment 2022
14
Luxury goods (jewelry, fashion accessories) 2.7% high-value manuf. 2022
15
Steel subsector 1.8% of total manufacturing production 2022
16
Shipbuilding niche 0.9% but high export intensity 2022
17
Printing and publishing 2.4% service-manuf hybrid 2022
18
Tires and rubber products 1.5% specialized 2022
19
Cement and lime 1.2% energy-intensive manuf 2022
20
Wine and beverage machinery 1.1% niche leader 2022
21
Medical devices manufacturing 3.6% growing sector 2022
22
Cosmetics and perfumery €12.4 billion turnover 2022, 4.2% share
23
Tobacco products 0.8% regulated sector 2022
24
Sports equipment 0.6% consumer goods manuf 2022
25
Musical instruments 0.2% artisanal excellence 2022
Interpretation
Sector Breakdown Interpretation
While Italy's manufacturing might be famously held aloft by the gears of mechanical engineering (€82.4 billion strong) and propelled by automotive components, its true genius lies in stitching together this robust industrial spine with the artisanal flair of textiles, the nourishing craft of food processing, and the intoxicating allure of perfumery and luxury into a remarkably balanced and stylish economic ensemble.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Italy Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italy-manufacturing-industry-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Italy Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/italy-manufacturing-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Italy Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italy-manufacturing-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
52 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level