Navigating Work and Purpose in Milan's Event Industry: An in-Depth Exploration

The events industry has become increasingly central to the urban economy, especially in global cities like Milan, where it plays a significant role in driving economic growth. This paper examines the quality and meaning of work within the event industry in Milan, a city that hosts a wide array of high-profile events, all of which generate substantial economic impact. The industry sustains a complex ecosystem that includes both highly skilled professionals and more marginal, vulnerable workers, whose roles are often temporary and precarious.

Our study specifically focuses on those workers who are ‘activated’ during events, such as hostesses, stewards, reception staff, catering staff, and production assistants. These individuals work in a highly flexible and intermittent employment context, characterized by short-term contracts, irregular hours, and frequent periods of inactivity between events.

We explore how workers in the event economy, particularly those in temporary and precarious roles, construct meaning around their professional and social identities despite the instability of their employment. We delve into how workers navigate the inherent uncertainties of their jobs, often shifting between different roles and responsibilities. Through in-depth interviews and field observations, we investigate the strategies these workers employ to find purpose and coherence in their work, as well as how they integrate these experiences into their broader life trajectories.

We also examine how the temporary nature of their roles affects their sense of belonging and professional fulfilment. For many, the fragmented nature of work in the event industry challenges traditional notions of career development, prompting workers to seek meaning in other aspects of their lives or to redefine success in more flexible terms. Furthermore, our study explores the wider societal and economic implications of this fragmented labor structure, particularly its impact on workers' well-being, social cohesion, and long-term prospects.