Stellantis is recruiting massively at its Fiat plant, but young people no longer want to work "nights and Saturdays? No thanks".

It's an image not seen in Turin for decades. In front of the Mirafiori factory gate, a line of applicants forms every day, CVs under their arms. For the first time in almost twenty years, Fiat's historic plant recruits massively. Stellantis has launched a campaign to hire between 434 and 440 operators to relaunch production of the Fiat 500 hybrid, a thermal version derived from the electric 500.

A symbolic turning point for the Turin site, long marked by under-utilization of its lines and almost 18 years of almost uninterrupted short-time working. February was supposed to mark the end of this social parenthesis. On paper, the scenario seemed ideal: new hires, a new model, and the ambition to get back above the 100,000 vehicles produced per year mark. But the reality on the ground is more nuanced.

Promise kept, but...

This relaunch is in line with the commitments made by former Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares, who promised a generational renewal at Mirafiori. His successor, Antonio Filosa, is now applying this strategy, closing the long period of social cushioning. Some 2,000 experienced employees already work at the site, with a high average age: many over 55, and a third of the workforce due to retire by 2029. The need for new blood is therefore obvious, almost vital to the plant's industrial survival. Yet, despite a thousand profiles identified by recruitment agencies, hiring is progressing more slowly than expected.

The new generation sets its conditions

At Mirafiori, the candidates are there. Young, often graduates, sometimes barely out of school. But in their backpacks, alongside their CVs, are conditions that are unheard of in the world of large-scale industry. This is what the Italian media Corriere Torino reports:

• Night work? Not for them.
• Saturday at the factory? No, I'm fine.
• Weekends are reserved for personal life, the gym and other priorities.

A culture shock for a plant historically founded on successive shifts, flexible working hours and total availability. Some applicants withdraw immediately after the interview, when they discover the possibility of a third shift or Saturday work. Others are reluctant to accept temporary employment contracts of around ten months, offered via agencies, despite starting salaries of between 2,000 and 2,600 euros gross per month, depending on the position. As a result, only around 120 of the 440 positions advertised have actually been filled to date.

Under-30s in demand... but hard to find

Another less visible but decisive constraint is Stellantis' preference for people under 30. Officially, management avoids making this a stated criterion, so as not to expose itself to accusations of discrimination. In practice, however, the unions confirm that older profiles, even though sometimes selected, are put on hold or redirected to other sites. This strategy further complicates recruitment. While there is no shortage of young candidates, there is a lack of technical skills. In Piedmont, according to the chambers of commerce, it has become extremely difficult to find skilled workers, especially maintenance operatives, a key trade for a modern plant.

For decades, working at Fiat in Mirafiori represented a promise: stability, a secure salary, a clear future. Today, this story is no longer convincing enough. The new generation of workers doesn't reject the factory, or even the blue coat. But they refuse to sacrifice their personal lives to it.

Production rates already under threat

This difficulty in recruiting staff could have a direct impact on the ramp-up of the Fiat 500 hybrid. The launch of a second line, initially scheduled for mid-March, could be postponed by several weeks for lack of sufficient and immediately operational personnel. This scenario is all the more sensitive given that Mirafiori is playing for high stakes: the 500 hybrid is not Stellantis' most ambitious model, but it represents the last short-term chance to restore volume to a plant that is symbolic of the Italian automotive industry.