News / Insights

Housing has become an increasingly important factor in the labor market and regional competitiveness, not only for the most economically vulnerable groups but also for workers with average incomes, regular employment contracts, and skilled professions.

The study “Living and Working: Housing, Businesses, and Regional Competitiveness,” conducted by Assolombarda in collaboration with ADAPT, highlights that the issue concerns not only the cost of housing but also the cost of commuting to work. In the City of Milan, the average rent is 1.6 times the average for the provincial capitals within the Assolombarda region; next come Monza, in line with the average, Lodi (0.8 times), and Pavia (0.7 times). Even outside the provincial capitals, a significant differential persists, with rents at 1.3 times the average in the rest of the Metropolitan City of Milan and 1.2 times in the province of Monza and Brianza, compared to 0.9 times in Lodi and 0.6 times in Pavia. Housing pressure therefore no longer affects only Milan but extends to outlying areas and along commuter routes, while for many workers with starting salaries ranging from 1,200 to 1,650 euros net per month, gaining access to independent housing may require compromises in terms of distance, sharing a residence, or postponing independence. Companies are experimenting with forms of housing welfare, focusing primarily on financial support and practical assistance in searching for and securing housing—including by acting as intermediaries between employees and landlords, serving as guarantors, contributing to rent payments, or, in some cases, directly purchasing and providing housing for employees. These initiatives, however, remain largely sporadic and concentrated in more well-established organizations.

The “Observatory on Housing for Business Competitiveness,” conducted by Assolombarda in collaboration with Patrigest - Gabetti Group, analyzes the relationship between housing, mobility, and access to opportunities within Assolombarda’s Quadrilatero region, comprising Milan, Monza Brianza, Lodi, and Pavia. Forty-seven percent of the students and young workers surveyed state that housing issues have influenced their educational or career choices, while housing expenses account for an average of 38% of their monthly income. Mobility is another key factor: 54% commute daily outside their municipality of residence, and 39% say they have turned down at least one job or educational opportunity due to distance or transportation difficulties. In the real estate market, over the past ten years, property sales have increased by 14.8% in Milan, by 75.1% in the rest of the metropolitan area and in the province of Monza and Brianza, by 40% in the province of Lodi, and by 80.9% in the province of Pavia. Furthermore, in Milan, lease agreements have increased by 20% compared to 2018, while standard long-term leases have fallen to less than half of the total, in favor of temporary arrangements and rent-controlled leases. In this context, a potential direct role for businesses also emerges: 41% of respondents say they are interested in a temporary housing solution provided by their employer, a figure that rises to 56% among Milan residents, with a preference for options such as an apartment for exclusive use, which guarantees autonomy and privacy.

The two studies thus highlight the need to jointly address the issues of housing and mobility, strengthening coordination among businesses, institutions, and service providers, and increasing the supply of housing solutions at affordable rents. In this context, it is important to create conditions that encourage corporate investment in housing and to develop integrated policies capable of addressing issues at the metropolitan area level.