After years of dwindling interest and a so-called "flight from public sector jobs," Italy’s public administration is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in popularity—especially among young people. Recent data released by labor unions CISL and FP CISL, as well as statements from the Ministry for Public Administration, paint a picture of a sector in transformation, fueled by digital innovation, generational turnover, and renewed confidence in the stability and value of public service careers.
At the heart of this turnaround lies the inPA portal, Italy’s central online platform for public job competitions. According to CISL and FP CISL, as of late December 2025, registrations on inPA soared to 2,881,000—nearly a million more than the previous year’s tally of 1,981,000. This dramatic jump is more than just a statistic; it signals a shift in how young Italians view public employment. The unions note, "An increase of this magnitude indicates not only renewed trust in the Public Administration, but also a profound change in the perception of the so-called 'permanent job,' which has returned to being a concrete and interesting prospect for many young people."
The numbers back up this new narrative. In the most recent competition held by the Tax Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate), nearly 100,000 candidates vied for just 2,700 positions—a level of interest not seen in years. The trend is broad-based: the National Council for Economics and Labour (CNEL) reports a 41.9% increase in participation in public competitions over the past year. Of the millions registered on inPA, "one in four is under 30, and one in two is under 39," according to official figures cited by Il Sole 24 Ore. Clearly, the public sector is winning over a new generation.
This generational renewal is not just theoretical. Between 2022 and 2024, a total of 439,000 new employees joined the Italian public administration, with an average age of 39. As a result, the average age across the sector’s roughly 3 million employees has dropped to 47. And the hiring spree is far from over: in 2025 alone, 15,000 competitions were announced, with an expected 175,000 new hires. By the end of this three-year period, more than 600,000 new entrants will have joined the ranks—meaning one in three public employees will be new to the job.
What’s driving this wave of interest? Several forces are at play. First, the sector is undergoing a profound transformation thanks to digitalization and the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Public services that once seemed stuck in the past—like the Io app, electronic health records, and the PagoPa payment system—are now digital, streamlined, and accessible. Key organizations such as the Tax Agency, INPS, and Sogei are embracing artificial intelligence, and the topic has even made its way into the platform for the new collective contract for public employees.
These changes are not only technological. The wave of new hires is bringing fresh skills and perspectives to the table, supporting Italy’s efforts to modernize its bureaucracy and improve service quality for citizens and businesses alike. According to CISL and FP CISL, "This process is fundamental for facing challenges related to digital innovation, organizational transition, and the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR)."
Of course, attracting talent requires more than just new technology. The unions and government alike point to the crucial role of social dialogue and collective bargaining. Renewed national contracts have brought steady salary increases, making entry-level public sector pay often competitive with private sector jobs. As CISL and FP CISL put it, "Interventions capable of responding to today’s workers’ needs, in terms of work-life balance, protections, professional development, and the quality of work organization, have made a decisive contribution to this renewed interest."
Still, there are challenges to overcome. Historically, public sector careers in Italy have been criticized for slow advancement and a lack of meritocracy. Recognizing this, Public Administration Minister Paolo Zangrillo has proposed reforms to introduce transparent career paths, allowing high-performing officials to become managers without the traditional public competition. The aim is to "reward the most deserving officials, allowing them to become executives without the constraint of the traditional public competition," as noted by Corriere della Sera.
Yet, not everything is rosy. Filling vacancies in major cities and northern regions remains difficult, mainly due to the high cost of living—especially rent. The government is weighing the impact of its Housing Plan (Piano Casa) and considering additional incentives for public employees in these areas to make relocation and retention feasible. As one union official remarked, "It will be necessary to assess the impact of the government’s Housing Plan and the possible introduction of incentives for public employees."
Looking forward, the stakes are high. By 2030, one million public employees are expected to retire, making the need for new, digitally skilled hires even more urgent. Both unions and government hope that the upcoming renewal of collective contracts for 2025–2027 will serve as a decisive turning point, aligning public sector working conditions more closely with those in the private sector. CISL and FP CISL have laid out their priorities for the next round of negotiations: recognition of "uncomfortable work" (such as night, holiday, and shift duties), tax relief on productivity bonuses and retroactive payments from contract renewals, and measures to further professionalize and modernize the sector.
The ultimate goal, as the unions see it, is clear: "To make public employment increasingly attractive, modern, and able to meet the expectations of new generations, enhancing skills, professionalism, and the quality of services provided to citizens and businesses." With digital transformation accelerating and a new generation entering the fray, Italy’s public sector may be on the cusp of a renaissance—one that could reshape how the country is governed for decades to come.
As the nation looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, the challenge will be to sustain this momentum, delivering not just jobs, but meaningful, modern careers that serve both the public good and the aspirations of Italy’s youth.
