According to the 14th National Report on the Maritime Economy, which was presented to the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy as part of the Blue Forum 2026, the Italian maritime sector is worth €224.9 billion, accounting for 11.4% of national GDP, with 253,599 companies and over 1.1 million employees. Direct value added climbed by 3.8%, compared to a 2.1% gain in the national economy overall, while employment in the sector increased by 4.2%, nearly tripling the national average. Minister Urso noted that this expansion was the consequence of a coordinated industrial strategy. However, during the Il Sole 24 Ore event in Genoa, a substantial job mismatch appeared, with tens of thousands of competent experts missing from the sector, and criticism was leveled at the marine ETS taxation system, which is perceived to penalize Italian ports.