Precariousness and underground economy: in the South people work 27 days less per year

MILAN – In the North, people work an average of 255 days a year, in the South 228, that is, 27 days less. This is highlighted by the Research Office of the Cgia of Mestre (Venice), according to which there are at least two closely related reasons at the origin of these data. The first - claims the Cgia - is due to a widespread underground economy that in the southern regions has a dimension not found in the rest of the country and that, statistically, does not allow for counting the hours worked irregularly. The second is attributable to a labor market that in the South is characterized by a lot of precariousness, by a widespread presence of involuntary part-time, especially in services, by many seasonal workers employed in the hospitality and agricultural sectors, which significantly lower the average of hours worked.

The workers and employees with the highest average number of days worked during 2023 were in the province of Lecco, with 264.9 days. They are followed by private employees in Biella (264.3), Vicenza (263.5), Lodi, (263.3), Padua (263.1), Monza-Brianza (263), Treviso (262.7) and Bergamo (262.6). The provinces with the least presence are Foggia (213.5 days), Trapani (213.3), Rimini (212.5), Nuoro (205.2) and Vibo Valentia (193.3). The Italian average was 246.1 days.

Milan queen of salaries

In areas where the hours worked are higher, productivity is also higher and consequently salaries and wages are "heavier". In the North, the average daily wage in 2023 was 104 euros gross, in the South 77 euros, equal to a differential of 35%. Productivity in the North was 34% higher than in the South. In 2023, Milan was the area where entrepreneurs paid the highest average salaries: 34,343 euros. Monza-Brianza follows with 28,833 euros, Parma with 27,869 euros, Modena with 27,671 euros, Bologna with 27,603 euros and Reggio Emilia with 26,937 euros: areas with a strong concentration of high productivity and high added value sectors such as the production of luxury cars, mechanics, automotive, mechatronics, biomedical and agri-food. The "poorest" employees, on the other hand, are in Trapani with 14,854 euros, in Cosenza with 14,817 euros, in Nuoro with 14,676 euros and finally in Vibo Valentia with 13,388 euros. The Italian average amounted to 23,662 euros.