by InTrieste
In the mountain town of Tolmezzo, where factories and workshops are tucked between Alpine peaks and winding roads, regional officials of Friuli Venezia Giulia region are betting that the future of rural industry depends on something increasingly difficult to secure: workers.
On Tuesday, regional labor officials announced a large-scale recruiting initiative aimed at connecting local businesses with job seekers across the Carnia area, an alpine territory long challenged by depopulation and economic isolation. The event, scheduled for June 17 at Tolmezzo’s Teatro Comunale Luigi Candoni, will bring together 16 companies offering a combined 71 positions in sectors ranging from manufacturing and transportation to finance and food production.
“This is not just about filling vacancies,” said Alessia Rosolen, the region’s labor councillor, during the presentation of the initiative. “It is about creating a system that supports communities, businesses and long-term economic growth.”
The recruiting day — organized by the regional government together with the Municipality of Tolmezzo, Carnia Industrial Park and the staffing agency Umana Spa — reflects a broader effort by the autonomous region to strengthen public employment services while fostering collaboration with private labor agencies.
For years, Carnia has faced many of the pressures common to Europe’s mountain regions: an aging population, shrinking workforce and the migration of younger residents toward larger cities. Yet regional officials argue that the area has gradually built an economic network capable of resisting decline.
Rosolen pointed to the continued presence of technical education institutes in nearby Amaro, as well as research and innovation hubs tied to the region’s industrial sector. Those investments, she said, have helped transform Carnia into a specialized manufacturing district capable of attracting investment despite its remote geography.
“It is not by chance that innovation programs continue to develop here,” Rosolen said. “Carnia has managed to carve out opportunities for growth and specialization.”
The participating companies represent a cross-section of the regional economy. Among them are Fantoni Group, a major wood and furniture manufacturer based in Villa Santina; Arriva Udine, the public transportation operator; Marelli Automotive Lighting Italy in Tolmezzo; and Wolf Sauris, the renowned prosciutto producer in the mountain village of Sauris.
Other participating firms include Advan, CarniaFlex, Modine Manufacturing Company, Primacassa Credito Cooperativo FVG and Rdm Ovaro, among others, seeking workers for technical, operational and administrative roles.
Candidates may apply by submitting a résumé before June 8 through the official application portal: Recruiting Day Tolmezzo Application.
Applicants selected after a preliminary screening phase will receive interview appointments between June 10 and June 16.
For regional officials, the initiative represents more than a hiring fair. In an area where economic resilience is deeply tied to the survival of local communities, attracting and retaining skilled workers has become a central political and social priority.
“Today,” Rosolen said, “we see small and large companies working together to identify the professional skills they need. That cooperation is essential not only for the labor market, but for the future of these communities themselves.”
