Once upon a time people emigrated with a cardboard suitcase, today instead they travel with a laptop under their arm. But the substance does not change: the new italian emigration it is an outward journey (and almost never a return) that empties the country. After the pandemic slowed down, the flow has started again with frightening numbers, similar to the mass emigrations of the last century. However, while once those who left were farmers and workers in search of fortune, today those who leave Italy are much more qualified. But what drives these young people to leave, and what are the consequences for Italy?
Youth Emigration in Italy: A Quantitative (and Qualitative) Problem
According to a study by North East Foundation “The real outflow is three times larger and fuels the competitiveness and growth of other European countries”, in the period 2011-2023 as many as 550 thousand young Italians between 18 and 34 years old left the country. migratory balance it's tragically negative: -377 thousand people. And that's not all: the official figures are just the tip of the iceberg, because many young people maintain Italian residency while living abroad. In short, the phenomenon is large and far from being resolved.
The difference compared to the past is in the quality of emigration. Today, those leaving are no longer just those seeking an escape from poverty, but the most educated. The greatest outflow comes from the richest regions, such as Lombardia e Veneto, where the rate of graduates among young emigrants is constantly growing: in 2022, 48% of young emigrants from Northern Italy had a degree, up from 41% in 2021 and 36% in 2019. And so Italy is losing people, human capital and, consequently, competitiveness.
A fairy tale without a happy ending
For years, a sort of “beautiful fairy tale” has been told according to which Italy participated, like all other advanced countries, in the normal circulation of talent. A reassuring vision, which however the numbers mercilessly deny. This exchange of people between Italy and the rest of Europe is not at all balanced. Many leave, few return. And if we look at the standings with favourite destinations for young Europeans,Italy is situated in last place with only 6% of the preferences, surpassed even by cold Sweden (14,1%) and small Denmark (10%). In the lead are Switzerland (34,2%) and Spain (31,6%), followed by Belgium (27,8%) and the Netherlands (16,9%). These places seem to offer that mix of job opportunities and quality of life that Italy, for now, struggles to guarantee. And if France, Germany and the United Kingdom decided to share their data with Eurostat, Italy would risk appearing even lower in this sad ranking.
Talent Drain: Necessity or Choice?
But why do these young Italians decide to leave the country? It is a question that is often not given enough space. They were conducted two studies: one on young people living in Northern Italy, from where most of the emigrants leave, and the other on the expat already established abroad.
Expatriates can be divided into two broad categories: those who emigrate for need (28%) and those who do it for choice (23%). The former mainly seek better job opportunities (26,2%) and a higher quality of life (23,2%). The latter often leave for reasons related to training (29,6%) or to find an environment more in line with their values (11,3%).
Those who return do so for family reasons or nostalgia, but most remain abroad because they do not see opportunities for young people in Italy, nor spaces for professional growth. And the numbers prove it: 87% of them judge their experience abroad positively. The dominant feeling is that our country offers few opportunities e you don't value enough the talent.
Emigration: Here's Why and What Young Talents Do Abroad
Among those who leave out of necessity, three out of four have found astable employment, almost all as employees. Curiously, almost half of them hold roles highly sought after by Italian companies, such as technicians, skilled or semi-skilled workers and unskilled workers. In absolute terms, this amounts to over 130 thousand young people.
On the other hand, among those who leave by choice, 29% dedicate themselves to studies or research, while 68% have a stable job, mainly as employees and, for the most part, as clerks. Surprisingly, almost 30% of them occupy those same professional positions that are most sought after in Italy, for a total of 56 thousand young people.
In all, we are talking about 186 thousand young people abroad, a fact that highlights a significant mismatch but also a double "waste": on the one hand, theItaly trains talents without being able to retain them, and on the other hand, young people do not find in their country an environment capable of valorising their skills.
The priorities of a “good workplace”
Interestingly, for expatriates, the stipendio It's just one of the ingredients in the "recipe" of a good workplace, but not the most important. Between priority the company's good reputation, its international openness, an inclusive environment, and the content of the work itself emerge. In short, for young Italian talents, the context counts more than money.
Other aspects appreciated abroad include the valorization of the role of workers, the balance between private life and work, opportunities for growth and training, and remuneration policies that reward merit. All these ingredients contribute to making it more difficult to return to Italy, perceived as a company too traditional e closed.
Why doesn't Italy attract young talent?
Italy appears unattractive to young expats, and this is evident in four key areas:
- Public policies: expats would like to see more attention to youth policies, better digital infrastructure, employment policies and family support.
- Environment cultural: meritocracy and international openness are perceived as lacking in the Italian system. Young people seek environments that value talent and promote cultural exchanges.
- Work: salaries appropriate to the work performed and the cost of living, opportunities in innovative sectors and professional growth are the main requests.
- Fabric business: young people are looking for companies that are not only innovative, but also show attention to the needs of their employees, but in Italy they find few of them.
In the final ranking of priorities, the following clearly emerges: responsibility of Italian entrepreneurs: they must work harder to create a working environment that meets the expectations of young people.
Young people on the run: a country that is aging and going into debt
Le consequences of this flight of young talents are many and all negative for the country. The birth rate is in constant drop, with 2024 marking a dramatic drop in births, around 370 thousand units. This phenomenon not only reduces the active population, but also contributes to thedemographic ageing, making Italy less and less competitive on a global level. Furthermore, the haemorrhage of talent has already led to a loss of human capital of 134 billion euros from 2011 to 2023: in the North, Lombardy lost 23 billion and Veneto 13 billion, while in the South Sicily recorded a loss of 15 billion and Campania 12 billion.
This human disinvestment reduces the competitiveness economic, with a labor market that struggles to adapt to change and innovate. Difficulties in coping with the green and digital transitions, combined with poor socio-economic adaptability, exacerbate the situation. Businesses are investing and innovating less, while the capacity for on-the-job learning continues to decline.
Finally, all this also has repercussions on the sustainability of public debt. Fewer young people, fewer businesses, less economic growth: the perfect mix to make debt a heavy burden to bear.
The new Italian emigration is a phenomenon that cannot be underestimated. It is not just a question of numbers, but of quality: the country is losing its best talents, just when it needs them most. If a change of direction is not implemented, there is a serious risk that more and more young people will continue to imagine their future far from Italy. It is unacceptable that such a crucial issue for the country remains in the background, when it should be at the centre of the agenda of every Italian policy maker. It is time to face this reality and take action, before it is too late.
