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Work: public employment, university, agri-food and confectionery

A regional-capital economy: Region, Province, municipality, hospital and universities are the main employers; in the private sector Perugina-Nestlé, agri-food, textiles and clothing, services and retail weigh most. A narrow skilled job market; regional employment rate close to the national average.

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Public sector and services

Perugia lives on administration and services: the Umbria Region, the Province, the municipality, the Santa Maria della Misericordia hospital trust (one of the largest hospitals in central Italy), the two universities and the schools employ a very high share of the workforce. Around these bodies work professional firms, consulting, training and the third sector.

Industry, fashion, retail

The best-known industry is Perugina, now part of the Nestlé group, with the San Sisto plant where the Baci chocolates are made; Umbrian agri-food (oil, wine, cured meats, pasta) has offices and logistics in the area, as does fashion with Luisa Spagnoli at Santa Lucia and the cashmere district at Solomeo and Corciano, on the edge of the city. Retail is concentrated in the shopping centres of Collestrada and Corciano; tourism and catering peak seasonally with Umbria Jazz and Eurochocolate. The Umbria Chamber of Commerce, a single body for Perugia and Terni, publishes business data.

Job market

The regional employment rate is close to the national average and above the South, but below the Centre-North; youth unemployment and the exodus of graduates to Rome, Florence and Milan are the acknowledged problems. Coworking spaces are few and concentrated in the centre and at Fontivegge; employment centres are regional (ARPAL Umbria). Italian is needed almost everywhere; English is required in the university and in tourism.

Missing: employment_rate, unemployment_rate

Sources

Camera di Commercio dell'Umbria· Camera di Commercio dell'Umbria

Updated: 2026-10-14

Updated: 2026-10-14

Reviewed: 10/23/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-04-30

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