Italy’s craftsmanship world is facing a paradox: the country that gave the world handmade shoes, marbled paper, Murano glass, and goldsmithing is now struggling to find the next generation of makers. The number of artisans has dropped sharply, almost four hundred thousand fewer than ten years ago: according to Confartigianato, Italy went from 1.77 million artisans in 2014 to 1.37 million in 2024, a contraction of 22 percent.
Yet, at the same time, demand for skilled craft workers continues to rise, and initiatives are multiplying to train and attract young people back into the sector. The tension between a shrinking workforce and renewed attention to craftsmanship defines a moment in which Italy’s tradition of the saper fare is being redefined through education, policy, and private investment.
