Italy – ECEC Workforce Profile

The study was developed within the SEEPRO-3 project based at the State Institute of Early Childhood Research and Media Literacy (IFP) in Munich and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Family and Youth Affairs (Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend). The project aimed at providing a systematic description of the early childhood workforce and the early childhood education and care (ECEC) systems in 33 countries. The chapter gives an account of the current status quo regarding the ECEC system in Italy, the qualification requirements for ECEC professionals, the composition of the workforce, the systems of initial professional education and continuing professional development, current reform initiatives and research projects, selected working conditions of staff. and current challenges relating to staffing issues. In addition, current challenges facing the ECEC staffing situation in the Italian context is presented.