Bari, against youth emigration 100 entrepreneurs 'invade' schools
Since 2011 Apulia has lost 130,000 young people who now work in the Centre North and abroad, while companies look for talent and do not find it
Against youth emigration, companies 'invade' schools. It is happening in Apulia, a region that has lost 130 thousand young people since 2011 with an economic loss estimated at 40 billion. Here, the companies of Confindustria Bari and Barletta Andria Trani organised a 'peaceful invasion in schools': about 100 entrepreneurs appeared in 50 schools to talk to almost 5 thousand pupils, to tell young people about the fascination of business life and to tell them that they can stay here.
The 'Imprese in cattedra' day, which is part of the Bari 'Capital of Business Culture' programme of Confindustria 2026, was not a lesson in business economics, but a tale of experiences, the narration of entrepreneurial adventures, that companies wanted to share with second and third grade students or high school seniors, in order to convey a spirit of enterprise and other useful information on the area's industry and the study and work paths it offers.
The reasons for the initiative were explained at the Istituto Comprensivo Michelangelo in Bari by Mario Aprile, president of Confindustria Bari and BAT, Giuseppe Silipo, director general of the Apulia School Office, Maria Veronico, headmaster of the Istituto Comprensivo Michelangelo Bari, Giuseppina Lotito, headmaster of the Bari USR territorial office, together with entrepreneurs Maria Veronico- Veronico srl and Nicolo' Scoditti - Hybris.
In short, one can speak of a real mobilisation of enterprises against youth emigration.
An unthinkable scenario a few years ago. Now, however, Unioncamere's forecasts show that between 2025 and 2029 the region of Apulia will need more than 200,000 new jobs, but in about 50 per cent of cases they will be difficult to find.
