On the occasion of the National Day of Made in Italy on 15 April, Confartigianato Imprese Calabria turns the spotlight on the strategic value of regional craftsmanship in the so-called “4 A” sectors – Food and drinks, Clothing and fashion, Furniture and wood, Automation and mechanics – pillars of Italian manufacturing capable of combining quality, tradition and innovation.
In Calabria, a total of 9,513 companies operate in the “4 A” sectors, with 21,670 employees, within a production system in which craftsmanship represents a central component with 5,637 companies, equal to 59.3% of the total, and almost 10 thousand employees, 44.6% of the overall employment of the sectors considered.
Territorial distribution and economic impact
The territorial distribution highlights a widespread and articulated presence: in the province of Cosenza there are 3,419 businesses, of which 1,950 artisan, with 7,420 employees and an impact of the “4 A” equal to 3.2% on the provincial economy; to Catanzaro there are 1,577 businesses, of which 882 are artisan, with 4,358 employees and an incidence of 2.7%.
TO Reggio Calabria 2,740 businesses operate, of which 1,739 are artisan, with 5,431 employees and an incidence of 3.9%; to Crotone there are 978 businesses registered, of which 538 are artisan, with 2,032 employees and an incidence of 3%; While Vibo Valentiawith 799 businesses of which 528 are artisan and 2,430 employees, stands out for its particularly strong vocation, with an incidence of 4.5%, among the highest at a national level.
Internationalization and regional export
On the internationalization front, the data confirm the relevance of these sectors: in 2025 the regional exports of the “4 A” reached 575 million eurosequal to 57.9% of overall exports and 1.5% of regional GDP. The sector is driving foodwhich represents 68.4% of the total, followed by automation and mechanics with 19.8%, clothing and fashion with 8.5% and furniture and wood with 3.3%.
In territorial detail, Reggio Calabria stands out as the province with the highest export value (265 million euros), followed by Cosenza (104 million) and Catanzaro (97 million), where a strong impact of automation and fashion emerges. Vibo Valentia records 67 million euros with a specialization in mechanics, while Crotone stands at 43 million with a prevalence of food.
The skills challenge and work mismatch
Alongside these results, however, a structural criticality emerges linked to the availability of skills. In 2025, Calabrian companies are looking for over 9 thousand workers, but the 46% of the figures are difficult to finda share higher than the regional average. The greatest difficulties are recorded in metallurgy (69.6%), ceramics and glass (64.2%) and in the wood and furniture sector (57.6%).
The intervention of Confartigianato Calabria
«The data clearly confirms that the “4 As” represent a pillar of the Calabrian economy – declares the president of Confartigianato Calabria, Salvatore Ascioti –. From the province of Cosenza to that of Catanzaro, up to Reggio Calabria, Crotone and Vibo Valentia, a complex production system emerges that combines manufacturing tradition and openness to international markets.”
«However – continues Ascioti – the real issue remains that of skills: almost one worker in two is difficult to find. It is essential to strengthen the link between school, training and business, invest in young people and enhance craft professions as a concrete opportunity for qualified work. Only in this way will we be able to guarantee the continuity and future of a productive heritage which is also the identity of the territory.”
In a context marked by geopolitical tensions and rising costs, Confartigianato Calabria reiterates how Made in Italy represents a strategic factor to be supported to guarantee competitiveness and lasting development.