In 2023, higher education researchers in Italy numbered approximately 57.93 thousand full-time equivalents. Forecasts suggest a steady increase, reaching 59.67 thousand by 2028. The year-on-year growth rate is consistent at about 0.6%, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 0.6% projected from 2024 to 2028.

Future trends to monitor include:

Potential impact of government policies aimed at boosting research and development.
Increased collaborations between universities and industries that may drive demand for researchers.
Technology advancements, especially in digital and AI, which could influence the scope of research needs
International shifts in academic collaboration that may affect Italy's researcher pool.