Job prospects for expat spouses in Italy

di Redazione Picenotime

giovedì 27 agosto 2020

Italy is a picturesque peninsula in southern Europe. It is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on 3 sides, and flanked by the rugged Alps to the north. Formerly a land of emigration, today Italy is a favoured destination for migrants from all over the world. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia arrive in Italy in search of greener pastures. Many of them are accompanied by their spouses or partners, who often look for jobs to supplement the household income. Here is a look at some of the income earning avenues for expat spouses in Italy.

Permits

Spouses of expats (migrant workers) who accompany their partners to Italy are subject to various laws and conditions regarding paid work. Citizens of EU and EEA countries can live and work in Italy without requiring residence or work permits. Migrants from countries outside the EU do require residence permits. However, it is sufficient for one partner to get the permits. Spouses of foreign nationals who have Italian residence permits can seek paid employment or be self employed.

Languages

Employment opportunities abound in Italy. However, most of these require Italian language skills. Other than major cities such as Rome and Milan Italian is the primary language of communication throughout the country. Learning Italian can greatly expand your job options.

Foreign nationals originating from English-speaking countries can find work teaching English. There is a steady requirement of English teachers in Italy, and few natives who possess Teaching-level credentials. English is taught in Italy as a second language. There are plenty of English teaching jobs in public and private schools, universities, and large organizations.

To work as an English teacher you would need to have at least a bachelor’s degree, as well as a TEFL or CELT certification. Teacher recruitments usually begin in February-March for positions that become available in September-October. English teachers can earn EUR 31,000-34,000 annually. There are several online resources for finding work as teacher in Italy, including eslbase.com/schools/italy.

Tourism

With a pleasant sunny climate and a rich cultural heritage Italy is big on tourism. The country's tourism industry added EUR 237.8 billion to its economy in 2019. Expat spouses can find temporary employment, seasonal jobs, or long term work in one of many tourism sub-sectors. For a listing of tourism and hotel industry jobs aspirants can visit www.hosco.com and many other online resources.

You can take one of several online courses to improve your employability in tourism. One can take an exam to get a license to work as a tour guide. Professional guides can earn EUR 12.50 per hour or more. Italian language skills would certainly be an advantage as well. Many luxury hotels and resorts in places such as in Tuscany and Umbria specialize in welcoming tourists from English speaking countries. Expat spouses fluent in English can seek a range of customer-facing jobs in these businesses.

Nursing

Employment statistics portal EU Skills Panorama reports that Italy has a shortage of health care professionals. Qualified nurses can readily get work visas to Italy. Expat spouses who are willing to acquire a qualification in nursing can also get employed in Italy's healthcare sector.

The Italian Ministry of Health conducts an assessment of applicants' professional credentials and equates them with comparable qualifications in Italy. Aspirants must pass an Italian language test, and must be conversant with the nursing practices prevalent in Italy. Foreign nurses in Italy earn EUR 26,000 annually on average. Thousands of migrant nurses live and work in Italy. They regularly send remittances to their loved ones back home via convenient and reliable solutions such as the Ria Money Transfer App. These remittances are the lifelines of many families in countries such as the Philippines and Albania.

Agriculture

Italy is a leader in the production of wine, olives, and fruits. Large farms and ranches are spread across the country's scenic landscape. Most of these offer seasonal work to migrants. They employ new and experienced workers for fruit picking, planting, and harvesting. According to the Italian Farmers’ Association one third of the agricultural workers in Italy are foreigners.

Self employment

Being self employed offers much flexibility and unlimited growth potential. Those wanting to setup their own businesses in Italy can seek advice and support from organizations like the Milan Chamber of Commerce. These agencies provide help with understanding local laws for setting up new businesses. The Professional Women’s Association of Milan is an organization that offers guidance to expat wives. Associating with such organizations can also help build a network of useful local contacts.

About the author:

Hemant G is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs LLC, a Digital and Content Marketing Agency. When he’s not writing, he loves to travel, scuba dive, and watch documentaries.

 

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