Working in Naples: services, port, ICT, tourism, health

Sectors

Public administration (Campania Region, Comune, Metropolitan City, state offices, health authorities and hospitals) is the largest employer. The port, managed by the Central Tyrrhenian Sea Port Authority, is among Italy's leading ports for passengers and cruises and has significant freight and shipbuilding activity. Tourism and catering are expanding fast and absorb a lot of labour, much of it seasonal or informal.

Aerospace is a historic cluster of the metropolitan area (Pomigliano d'Arco, Capodichino, Casoria) with large groups and a supplier chain. ICT has grown around the San Giovanni a Teduccio campus: the Apple Developer Academy since 2016, development and consulting centres of multinationals, startups. Health care, with large hospitals and the Policlinico, and the university are stable employers. Crafts (tailoring, leather goods, nativity figures) and retail remain strong.

Where people work

Offices are concentrated in the Centro Direzionale (1990s towers near the Central Station), in Chiaia and via Toledo (professional firms, banks), in Fuorigrotta (Mostra d'Oltremare, trade fairs), in San Giovanni a Teduccio (technology) and in the port area. Coworking exists in the historic centre, Chiaia and Vomero, with smaller spaces than in Rome or Milan. To start a business the reference is the Naples Chamber of Commerce.

What to know

Naples' labour market has low employment rates and a high share of irregular work, especially in tourism, retail and personal services: anyone coming to work should have a contract before moving or aim at the structured sectors (public, health, university, ICT, large companies). Salaries are lower than in the North for the same role, partly offset by cheaper housing.