From STEM faculties to ITS, up to mechatronics, healthcare and tourism: which are the profiles most sought after by companies and why AI is not destined to replace them all. Data and guide from Skuola.net and Unioncamere
University, ITS or world of work? What are the most requested degrees and diplomas? Between false myths, the (alleged) competition of AI and the real requests of companies, which often look for staff without finding them, There are 10 “rules” for orientationaccording to a guide signed by Skuola.net together with Unioncamere. The advice is based on the numbers of the Excelsior Information System and on the words of Riccardo Cuomo, manager of the Labor Policies and Institutional Projects for Simplification Area of Unioncamere.
Work after graduation: 3.7 million hirings expected in Italy
The first tip is think about the numbers before choosing. Over the next five years, Italian companies expect to hire 3.7 million people, and over 80% of these positions will be created to replace those who are retiring, not for new growth. It is a huge generational change, which risks leaving entire sectors uncovered. To orient yourself between supply and demand, Unioncamere has put the Excelsiorienta platform online, designed specifically to match passions with real market demands.
The most requested degrees in 2026: from STEM subjects to healthcare
The faculties that open the most doors are those in STEM. In the Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics courses, companies’ difficulty in finding candidates often exceeds 55%, which means that more than one offer in two risks remaining unanswered. The most searched figures are designers, data analysis experts and IT security specialists. The Economic-Statistical area remains by far the most requested for roles such as administration, marketing, finance and management control. Opportunities are also growing Medical-Healthcare fieldwhere doctors, nurses and rehabilitation professionals are needed, and in the world of teaching, destined for a strong turnover in the coming years. Finally, an often underestimated channel is that of ITS Academythe two or three year post-diploma technical courses. Eight out of ten ITS graduates find work within a year of graduation.
Diplomas most requested by companies: mechatronics, electrical engineering and tourism
But you don’t necessarily need a degree to find a job quickly. In the coming years, the Italian market will absorb more high school graduates than graduatesand the most difficult profiles to find remain those technicians: Mechanics and Mechatronics, the beating heart of the national industry, and Electronics-Electrotechnics, fundamental for automation and new generation systems. In some sectors, such as mechatronics, the share of positions that risk remaining uncovered reaches 65-70% of the total. They are also in high demand graduates in Administration, Finance and Marketingespecially for small and medium-sized businesses, together with profiles trained in Tourism, Food and Wine and Hospitalitywhere qualified personnel are lacking. Finally, highly sought after also technicians related to ICTdigital and energy transition, called upon to manage networks, cloud and improve the efficiency of homes.
Will artificial intelligence take away jobs? Here’s what the data really says
On the artificial intelligence front, the photograph that emerges from the Excelsior data debunks many alarmisms. Companies are not adopting it to cut staff, but to increase productivity in a country where the workforce is shrinking as it ages. Digital skills, whether basic or advanced, are now required in almost eight out of ten professional profiles and in sectors such as administrative services, logistics or software development, AI has already profoundly changed the way of working.
On the other hand, professions that are based on empathy, relational skills and fine manual skills remain completely safe from Artificial Intelligence: those who work in personal care, from nurses to educators, those who work in the excellent craftsmanship linked to Made in Italy, such as chefs and tailors, and those who lead the ecological transition processes in companies. And it’s not just salaried work: every year thousands of new businesses led by young people under 35 are born, especially in experiential tourism, precision agriculture and digital-related startups.
