G23-1 Labour Markets in the Transition Era: Future of Work, AI, Unemployment, Gig Economy and Digital Nomads
Tracks
Track 2
| Friday, August 28, 2026 |
| 9:00 - 10:30 |
| Auditorium 245A - North Building - Faculty of Geology and Geography |
Details
Chair: Matteo Beghelli
The discussant for each presentation is the presenter of the next paper in the session. The first presenter is the discussant of the last paper.
Speaker
Dr. Alessandro Gallo
Post-Doc Researcher
University of Florence
Mapping Skill Requirements in ICT Occupations using an IRT Modelling Approach
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Dr. Alessandro Gallo (p), Prof. Francesca Adele Giambona, Prof. Lucia Buzzigoli, Prof Laura Grassini
Abstract
Online Job Advertisements (OJAs) represent a valuable resource for analysing labour market demand in contemporary economies. In this paper, we use proprietary Lightcast data to study ICT labour market demand in Italy. The dataset provides one of the most comprehensive views of online labour demand, covering millions of job postings collected daily from a wide range of sources, including specialised job portals and company websites. We propose a new approach to classify and map skill requirements for ICT occupations across selected Italian regions and provinces. The approach is based on a Multilevel Item Response Theory (IRT) model and delivers two main outputs. First, it constructs an index of “skill intensity” for each job advertisement, capturing the overall level of skill requirements and enabling territorial comparisons across regions and provinces. Second, it estimates parameters that identify the most critical skills for the ICT sector as a whole. These results can inform targeted economic and social policies and support early-career workers entering the ICT labour market. In addition, the skill-intensity index can be aggregated and incorporated into macroeconomic models to examine its relationship with territorial socio-economic indicators.
Dr. Matteo Beghelli
Senior Researcher
Unioncamere Emilia-Romagna
The "Governance of Meaning" in the Age of AI: Vocational Mismatch, Embodied Knowledge, and the Strategic Resilience of Craftsmanship in the Italian Regional Ecosystem (2026-2030)
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Dr. Matteo Beghelli (p)
Abstract
This paper analyses the strategic role of artistic and technical craftsmanship within the current technological revolution driven by Generative Artificial Intelligence. While the dominant narrative often relegates traditional manufacturing to a nostalgic dimension, data from the 2026-2030 Excelsior Information System reveals an occupational paradox: as automation erodes codifiable technical tasks, the demand for "embodied knowledge" and transversal human skills is reaching historical peaks.
The analysis begins with a dramatic statistical reality: the Italian labor market suffers from a profound "hunger for mastery". For every 100 profiles graduating from vocational training paths, companies demand 194, creating a mismatch that exceeds 50% in sectors of excellence such as the Fashion System and Mechanical Engineering. In this scenario, the artisan emerges as the "Governor of Meaning": a figure capable of managing exceptions, aesthetic intuition, and ethical judgment—areas where algorithms, based on probabilistic patterns, remain structurally deficient.
The paper delves into the concept of skill hybridization. Drawing from the Excelsior reports on "Digital Competencies" and "Cultural and Creative Industries," it demonstrates that the contemporary artisan is not an analog subject but a "4.0 professional." Although 80% of entries in creative industries require digital skills, these are considered insufficient unless paired with soft skills such as problem-solving and flexibility, which represent the modern evolution of tacit knowledge.
A crucial point of the research concerns "Replacement Demand": it is estimated that 80% of the total labor demand over the next five years will be driven by the need to replace workers leaving due to demographic reasons. This turnover represents a unique opportunity for younger generations, provided that what we define as the "Artisan Compass" is activated. Career guidance must stop being an "anchor" tied to social prejudices and become a dynamic tool capable of guiding talent toward high-value-added educational paths.
In conclusion, this work proposes a re-evaluation of vocational training not as a "second-class choice," but as a pillar of national economic resilience. By integrating green and digital transitions with the "intelligence of the hands," craftsmanship stands as the ultimate bulwark against technological alienation, ensuring that the "sense of doing" remains at the heart of Europe's productive future.
The analysis begins with a dramatic statistical reality: the Italian labor market suffers from a profound "hunger for mastery". For every 100 profiles graduating from vocational training paths, companies demand 194, creating a mismatch that exceeds 50% in sectors of excellence such as the Fashion System and Mechanical Engineering. In this scenario, the artisan emerges as the "Governor of Meaning": a figure capable of managing exceptions, aesthetic intuition, and ethical judgment—areas where algorithms, based on probabilistic patterns, remain structurally deficient.
The paper delves into the concept of skill hybridization. Drawing from the Excelsior reports on "Digital Competencies" and "Cultural and Creative Industries," it demonstrates that the contemporary artisan is not an analog subject but a "4.0 professional." Although 80% of entries in creative industries require digital skills, these are considered insufficient unless paired with soft skills such as problem-solving and flexibility, which represent the modern evolution of tacit knowledge.
A crucial point of the research concerns "Replacement Demand": it is estimated that 80% of the total labor demand over the next five years will be driven by the need to replace workers leaving due to demographic reasons. This turnover represents a unique opportunity for younger generations, provided that what we define as the "Artisan Compass" is activated. Career guidance must stop being an "anchor" tied to social prejudices and become a dynamic tool capable of guiding talent toward high-value-added educational paths.
In conclusion, this work proposes a re-evaluation of vocational training not as a "second-class choice," but as a pillar of national economic resilience. By integrating green and digital transitions with the "intelligence of the hands," craftsmanship stands as the ultimate bulwark against technological alienation, ensuring that the "sense of doing" remains at the heart of Europe's productive future.
Dr. Albert Yirmiyahu
University Lecturer
Sapir Academic College
The Differential Impact of the National Program for Increasing Skilled Workforce for the High-Tech Industry: A Case Study of Peripheral Regions in the Israeli Labor Market.
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Dr. Albert Yirmiyahu (p)
Abstract
Many studies assessing national educational reforms focus on the likelihood of acquiring advanced education and the associated labor market returns. This study investigates the impact of the 'National Program for Increasing Skilled High-Tech Personnel,' a policy aimed at promoting higher education in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) across all segments of the Israeli population.
The findings reveal that the reform contributed considerably more to making STEM higher education accessible to residents of the periphery than to the rest of the population. However, this impact is not fully reflected in the earning capacity of these residents. This gap may stem from variations in the quality of education provided by different Israeli academic colleges, as well as the specific fields of study chosen by students.
Utilizing data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) and applying advanced econometric models, this study highlights the challenges of STEM education reforms. It underscores that while access has improved, disparities in institutional quality remain a significant barrier to achieving labor market equality.
The findings reveal that the reform contributed considerably more to making STEM higher education accessible to residents of the periphery than to the rest of the population. However, this impact is not fully reflected in the earning capacity of these residents. This gap may stem from variations in the quality of education provided by different Israeli academic colleges, as well as the specific fields of study chosen by students.
Utilizing data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) and applying advanced econometric models, this study highlights the challenges of STEM education reforms. It underscores that while access has improved, disparities in institutional quality remain a significant barrier to achieving labor market equality.
