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Abstract
During the last years Italy, a country characterized by a long history of emigration, has
seen a quickly growth of the phenomenon of immigration. Our Nation seems to be a
“docking point” for new and substantial flow of immigrants mainly from Eastern Europe
looking for new work opportunities. The profile of these people is usually characterized
by high level of education as well as flexibility and adaptability. For the national
economy in general, and for the agricultural sector in particular, this new migration flows
represent an effective answer to the aversion for the agricultural job expressed by many
potential autochthon workers.
Which are the characteristics of extra-community agricultural labour? Which are the
characteristics of migration flows linked to the agricultural labour in three provinces of
one of the main agricultural regions in Italy?
Based on National Institute of Welfare information’s (INPS), the research underlines the
diversification of this phenomenon among Italian regions as well as its dynamism. In
Italy, during the last five years, the proportions of foreign agricultural workers increased
up to 50%, and peaked in four Italian regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Campania,
Piemonte and Emilia-Romagna. In Emilia-Romagna, in particular, immigrants represent
almost a quarter of total agricultural workers and most of them aged less than forty years.
The analysis of information about labour market in the agricultural sector in some
Emilia-Romagna provinces shows that immigrants are concentrated in few farms.
Farmer prefers to engage homogeneous ethnic groups to assure cultural affinity among
the employees. In the local agricultural labour market the immigrants coming from
Eastern Europe, in particular from Poland and Romania, are aged between 22 and 36
years, are unemployed in their country, they have a driving license and a good
knowledge of Italian and English language.