Working in Rome: public sector, international bodies, audiovisual, tourism

Sectors

Public administration is the largest employer: ministries, national agencies, the Lazio Region and Roma Capitale, as well as Parliament and the judiciary. International organisations (FAO, IFAD, WFP, embassies to Italy and to the Holy See, Vatican institutions) feed an international labour market with its own contracts and rules. Tourism and hospitality employ a very high share of workers, with strong seasonality.

Film and audiovisual have their national centre in Rome: the Cinecittà studios, RAI (via Teulada, Saxa Rubra and via Asiago sites), production and post-production companies and the international platforms producing in Italy. Health (large university hospitals) and research (universities, CNR, ENEA, INFN in Frascati, ESA-ESRIN in Frascati) complete the picture. Industry is limited but specialised: aerospace and defence (Leonardo, Thales Alenia Space), electronics and pharmaceuticals in the metropolitan area.

Where people work

Offices are concentrated in the centre (ministries, professional firms), in Prati (lawyers, RAI, Vatican), at EUR (large companies, ministries, Eni, Poste), along the Tiburtina and at Tor Vergata (technology and research), and at Fiumicino (airport and logistics). Coworking is widespread: large spaces at EUR, Ostiense and Termini and many small ones in the rioni. To start a business the reference is the Rome Chamber of Commerce, which publishes data on active companies in the territory.

What to know

Rome's labour market rewards personal networks and public competitions; home-to-work travel times are among the longest in Italy and should weigh on the choice of home. In public employment and international organisations English is a requirement; in tourism and catering jobs are plentiful but often seasonal or fixed-term.