Encouraging signs on the employment front, but also structural criticalities requiring targeted interventions on training and human capital . This is the picture that emerges from the analysis by the Economic Observatory of the Nuoro Chamber of Commerce of the most recent data from the Territorial Economy Barometer, published on May 29, 2026, and dedicated to the labor market.
Looking ahead to 2025, the employment rate in the province of Nuoro stands at 58.3% for the 15-64 age group. This figure is still below the national average, but confirms a significant recovery: the province has risen seven places in the national rankings, from 83rd in 2024 to 76th in 2025.
After the sharp slowdown in 2020 linked to the pandemic crisis, the Nuoro labor market has shown a progressive ability to recover , approaching the regional average levels of Sardinia in the two-year period 2024-2025.
Among the most positive aspects highlighted by the survey is the data on gender equality. The gap between the male and female employment rates stands at 8.8%, one of the lowest levels nationwide. Thanks to this result, the province of Nuoro ranks ninth in Italy for the lowest employment gap between men and women, confirming a balance in access to employment that is above the national average.
Alongside these positive elements, however, some structural weaknesses remain. The unemployment rate stands at 9.3%, while the inactivity rate stands at 35.7%, indicating that over a third of the working-age population is neither employed nor actively seeking work. The analysis also highlights a still-weak demand for labor from the local productive system. The indicator for expected worker income per 100 residents stands at 11.1%, one of the lowest figures nationwide. Of greatest concern, however, is the persistent mismatch between labor supply and demand. Despite the limited number of planned hires and significant levels of unemployment and inactivity, 48.8% of the hires expected by companies are considered difficult to fill.
This data confirms that the problem is not only quantitative, but also qualitative: companies are struggling to find the skills required by the ongoing economic and technological transformation processes locally.
"Just days after the 'Sardinia, Island of Skills' conference," comments Maria Luisa Ariu, head of the Economic Observatory of the Nuoro Chamber of Commerce, "these data fully confirm the analyses that emerged during the discussion. The province has practically caught up with the regional average in terms of employment rate, demonstrating that inland areas can grow at the same rate as the rest of the island."
"However, creating new job opportunities isn't enough," Ariu points out. "We need to invest decisively in training, guidance, and the development of human capital to reduce mismatches and support regional development."
(Unioneonline)