The event catering sector in Italy has shown significant variability over the past decade. Employee numbers witnessed steady growth from 2013 through 2019, achieving peaks in 2017 when the sector expanded by nearly 24% year-over-year. However, the impact of COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in a substantial decline of over 43%. A recovery trend began in 2021, continuing with solid year-on-year growth rates of approximately 42% in 2021 and 19.58% in 2022. By 2023, the number of employees reached 14.11 thousand, reflecting a 12.19% increase year-on-year. The average annual growth rate (CAGR) for the past five years was approximately 3.01%.
Looking ahead, the sector is forecasted to continue its recovery and growth trajectory, reaching an estimated 15.76 thousand employees by 2028. This represents a forecasted five-year CAGR of 1.75% and a total growth rate of 9.07% from 2023 to 2028. Key future trends to monitor include potential impacts from economic recessions, changing consumer behaviors post-COVID-19, and advancements in event technology that could influence employment needs within the sector.