Italy lost 555,000 craft jobs between 2008-2012

(see related) (ANSA) - Rome, September 23 - Italy lost 550,000 jobs in the highly skilled fields of artisan and craft professions between 2008 and 2012, according to a study released Tuesday by national statistics agency Istat and Isfol, the public institute for workers' professional development. As well, the study said there has been little innovation in Italy's productive system. "Changes in the way work is carried out were experienced in little more than one in four (26.1%) professions," according to the study.