Fashioning a career in Lombardy
One of the largest chemical industries in Europe is ready to entice you to enjoy la dolce vita
The top of the ‘boot’ of Italy, Lombardy is in the north west of the country, where the hot climes of the Mediterranean give way to the Alps. Home to some 10 million people, the region is one of the wealthiest in Europe (its GDP is more than Ireland’s) and is dominated by the region’s capital, Milan.
Chemicals manufacture is Italy’s third-largest industry in terms of export, with a turnover of some €52 billion (£46 billion) a year. Lombardy is the largest chemical hub in Europe outside of Germany, and is responsible for a staggering 45% of this wealth. A third of Italy’s chemical firms call the region home, directly employing 72,000 staff (4% of all chemical industry workers in Europe). The area also has a blossoming pharmaceutical industry, with more than 50% of Italy’s clinical trials taking place in the region.