Work
Employment rate below the national average but above the rest of the South; strong tourism seasonality from May to September. Public administration, retail, tourism, sheep farming and agri-food, services in Cagliari; industrial crises in the Sulcis and Porto Torres. Job centres run by ASPAL; ZES unica and regional incentives.
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Structure
Sardinia has an employment rate below the national average but above Campania, Calabria, Sicily and Apulia, and unemployment below the southern average. Public administration (Region, local authorities, health service, schools, armed forces) is the main employer; then retail, tourism and catering, construction, transport. Agriculture is mainly sheep and goat farming (sheep for Pecorino Romano) and winegrowing; in 2024 the sector suffered the bluetongue epidemic in sheep with losses documented by the Region. Industry in the Sulcis (Portovesme, with the zinc and lead plants and the former Alcoa smelter) and in Porto Torres has been in crisis for years, with prolonged furlough.
Seasonality and hubs
Tourism is the main source of seasonal work: hotels, resorts, restaurants and beach clubs on the Costa Smeralda, in the Gallura, Alghero, Villasimius, Pula, Stintino and the Ogliastra hire between May and September, often with accommodation provided because houses are let to tourists; in winter the coastal resorts empty out. Cagliari offers work in services, ICT (CRS4, Tiscali and start-ups), the university and the port; Olbia in boating and the airport; Sassari and Alghero in health care and the university. The military bases at Decimomannu, Teulada, Capo Frasca and La Maddalena employ civilian and military staff.
Services and incentives
Job centres are run by ASPAL (the Sardinian agency for active labour policies), which publishes vacancies, internships and the GOL programme. The Region funds its own incentives for hiring and self-employment, remote work in small municipalities and the return of emigrants, with calls that change every year. ISTAT and SVIMEZ (a research association, not an official source) document a steady outflow of young people and graduates to the Centre-North and abroad and a strongly negative natural balance. Businesses can access the ZES unica tax credit and the single authorisation.
Data
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
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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