ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The Check-up Mezzogiorno 2025, realized by Confindustria and SRM (Centro Studi linked to the Intesa Sanpaolo Group), photographs a South in progressive recovery and structural strengthening. The growth dynamic, driven by investments, in recent years is more sustained than the rest of the country, even within a complex macroeconomic and geopolitical context. Divarious historians compared to other macro-areas in the country are not overcome, but a significant change is recorded, opening a credible trajectory of convergence. In 2025 the Synthetic Index of the Southern Economy reached 641.9, between Center (666.5) and North (630), recording an increase of 6.1 points after the slowdown of 2024. The Mezzogiorno GDP grew by +7.7% in the period 2019-2024, over the national average (+5.8%). In 2024 the growth is 0.7%, with prospects for strengthening in 2026 thanks also to the implementation of the PNRR. The per capita GDP rises to 22 thousand euros, remaining well under the Italian average.
The labour market shows an increase in employment of +0.8%, higher than the national figure, but remain critical to the cost of work and the mismatch of skills.
Overcoming South Decontribution and the application difficulties of the new phase require clear and consistent answers. The productive fabric continues to be transformed: in the face of a slight reduction of the total number of enterprises, in line with the rest of the country, increase the companies of capital (+4.0%), signal of a gradual bulking of the productive structure. The more fragile the export, than in 2025 shows a phase of weakness, although the manufacturing continues to represent the pillar of southern exports, more than 93%. A central role in supporting this growth phase is played by public policies, which in recent years have contributed decisively to the holding of the production system and the activation of investments. The Check-up allowed us to update the data relating to both the investment tax credit in the ZES Unica Mezzogiorno and those connected to the unique authorizations, confirming the effectiveness of both instruments. In 2025, 10,493 tax credit applications (+52%) were presented, for 3,64 billion, which triggered over 7,3 billion investments.
In addition to this, the unique permissions released in ZES confirm the success of a simplified-based winning model. At the beginning of 2026 there are over a thousand authorizations, which generated about 6 billion direct investments and over 17 thousand jobs. These data do not take into account the indirect effects and multiplier, which greatly increase the impact. The PNRR represents another fundamental lever in the South, where over 110 thousand projects are concentrated; However, on the implementation front, critical issues remain: In view of the resources allocated, 14,5 billion euros are liquidated, with a payment rate of 27%, lower than that of the Centre-North. The 2014-2020 programming of cohesion policy ended positively, focusing on all expenditure objectives. The 2021-2027 programming, however, presents a level of progress still contained, despite the half-term review phase is now consolidated.
Overall, the Check-up confirms the topicality of the “Mezzogiorno Factor”: a combination of economic growth, public policies and entrepreneurial capacity that has returned to the South a renewed centrality in national development. However, the risk of slowing down and reopening the gaps remains concrete, especially in such a uncertain international context. “To consolidate the phase of growth and transform it into structural development – commented Natale Mazzuca, Vice President of Confindustria for Strategic Policies for the Development of the Midday – it is necessary to guarantee the certainty of the rules, continuity of the tools and consistency of the policies, in a medium-long term vision. It is crucial to preserve and strengthen tools that are working, starting from the ZES Unica Mezzogiorno and to face still open knots such as the ability to attract large enterprises, the strengthening of innovative chains, the territorial balance of investments and the construction of a clear strategy for the post-PNRR phase. Only in this way, even using the contribution of the economic and social partnership, will it be possible to consolidate the “Mezzogiorno” for the benefit of the South and the Country. “The Check-up Mezzogiorno – said Massimo Deandreis, general manager of SRM – highlights a clear step change in the midday growth trajectories, which between 2019 and 2024 recorded an increase in GDP of +7.7%, about two percentage points more than the national average. A stronger South is today a key factor in competitiveness for Italy; Moreover, in the new geoeconomic context can be valued the natural role of the Mezzogiorno in the Euro-Mediterranean area as a productive, infrastructure and energy hub, for the benefit of the entire country system”.
– graphic photo screenshot from Intesa Sanpaolo press office –
(ITALPRESS).
