impiegato

Impiegato is an Italian noun that designates a person employed in an organization, typically performing administrative or clerical tasks within an office. The term is commonly used to describe office workers, administrative assistants, and staff who handle paperwork, customer service, data entry, scheduling, and routine office operations. It contrasts with manual workers or specialists, though it covers a broad range of duties depending on the sector.

Origin and usage: The word derives from impiegare, to employ. It originally referred to someone employed to perform tasks and later came to denote a specific job category in offices. The masculine form impiegato, the feminine impiegata, with plural impiegati, impiegate.

Common roles and environments: Impiegati work in private companies, banks, insurance firms, and public administrations as clerks, administrative assistants, receptionists, or junior managers. Their responsibilities may include filing, correspondence, data processing, invoice handling, customer service, calendar management, and basic accounting.

Qualifications and training: Entry requirements vary by country and industry but typically include a high school diploma or diploma di maturità, with many roles supported by courses in office administration, informatics, or accounting. Proficiency in office software (word processing, spreadsheets, databases) is usually expected.

Context and evolution: In contemporary Italian labor markets, the term remains common in job adverts and occupational classifications, though more senior or specialized positions may be labeled differently, such as impiegato amministrativo, addetto all’ufficio, or collaboratore d’ufficio. The gendered form reflects the applicant's or employee's gender.