Employment in Italy's weapons and ammunition sector has steadily declined from 2013 through 2023, starting at 7.27 thousand employees in 2013 and falling to 5.44 thousand employees in 2023. The year-on-year variation revealed frequent negative trends, with significant drops like -16.35% in 2016 and more modest declines such as -1.93% in 2023. Over the past five years (2019–2023), the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was approximately -1.62%, indicating consistent workforce reductions.
Looking forward, employment in this sector is forecasted to continue its decline, with a 2028 forecast suggesting a drop to 4.92 thousand employees. The predicted five-year CAGR from 2024 is -1.6%, suggesting that the workforce will shrink by about 7.75% by 2028.
Future trends to watch for include:
- Technological advancements and automation reducing the need for manual labor
- Policy changes and international arms agreements impacting production levels
- Shifts in defense spending priorities within Italy and the EU
