/ Magazine / Editorial / From falling birth rates to labour shortages: what does the future hold?

From falling birth rates to labour shortages: what does the future hold?

Marzio Nava

Mundus bellis turbatus (A world thrown into turmoil by wars), as the Romans said when wars broke out across the world. From the East to the Middle East, tensions have reached extreme levels, and the skies over these regions are ablaze, an ominous glow, foretelling death and despair.

In a world so deeply unsettled, planning business activities and keeping the economy running smoothly becomes a daunting task. The grim effects of these conflicts are already visible in the rising prices at fuel pumps, but the impact cuts deeper, charging forward "with lances at the ready," driving up the cost of all energy sources. Beyond the cyclical and short-term concerns, like war, that trouble the economy and markets, there are also structural issues and long-standing vulnerabilities that demand attention. At our recent conference in Maranello (Modena), held from May 23 to 25 as part of the lead-up to EXPODETERGO INTERNATIONAL 2026, one issue emerged with striking clarity during sessions focused on both small and industrial laundry operations: the severe difficulty in finding qualified personnel. A challenge that is affecting both small and large industrial laundries that are using different approaches to cope with peaks in activity. Automation and technological innovation only partially succeed in addressing this shortfall.

Where does this structural issue originate? According to labour law expert Pietro Ichino, the roots of Italy’s labour market dysfunction lies in three systemic gaps: training, access to information, and worker mobility – the result is a persistent mismatch between labour supply and demand, compounded by limited flexibility among workers to relocate or retrain in response to employment opportunities. As emerged in the conference discussions, these challenges are now being exacerbated by deep demographic shifts. The most pressing of these is the ongoing decline in birth rates. As political scientist Maurizio Ferrera recently wrote in Corriere della Sera: “If fewer and fewer children are born and we close our borders to immigrants, Italy will soon be left without the legs to walk on, nor the resources to provide income and care for its elderly.”

The causes behind the current labour shortage and demographic imbalance are multifaceted, and no immediate or simple solutions exist. Life choices, such as whether to have children or not, rightly belong to the realm of individual freedom and conscious decision-making. This is not a uniquely Italian issue, but part of a global demographic trend. As humanity responds in similar ways to shared socio-economic stimuli, we are seeing similar dynamics unfold across countries as diverse as China, India, and eventually Africa. So, what can be done? Efforts to reverse the trend must begin now, with a dual approach addressing both immediate needs and long-term structural change. First, there is an urgent need to better support Italy’s nearly 10 million non-selfsufficient elderly people, particularly those living alone and facing increasing vulnerability. Second, we must take decisive steps to promote parenthood and support young families by implementing the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) nursery plan as well as strengthening work-life balance policies.

The issue is undeniably complex and resistant to easy solutions, perhaps even requiring drastic, long-term measures. For now, we can only face it with a touch of irony and resilience, echoing the spirit of the great Anna Magnani in Rome, Open City, who famously said: “Please don't retouch my wrinkles. It took me so long to earn them”.

DETERGO MAGAZINE # JULY/AUGUST 2025

Read also

Editorial

November 2025

One washing machine, simultaneous wash cycles: a game-changer or a risky bet for laundries?

Editorial

October 2025

From the flapping of a butterfly’s wings to Cyberwar, the step is short