CNEL: Young people are going to work abroad, but 83 per cent are ready to return to Italia. Under certain conditions

Italia is struggling to shake off the spectre of the brain drain, as highlighted in the CNEL report "Young expats. How to bring them back". The number of young people leaving the country in search of better job opportunities remains high. The study involved 1,803 young people Italian expats, aged between 18 and 34, with the aim of identifying the causes of the phenomenon and, above all, the conditions for their return home.

93 per cent of the sample surveyed hold a degree: the majority of young people have completed a master’s degree, followed by those with a postgraduate diploma, a bachelor’s degree and a PhD. Of these, 28 per cent completed their studies directly abroad. 70% of them emigrated between the ages of 23 and 30, with almost 1 in 10 young people leaving at the end of their studies without ever having worked in Italia. In total, between 2012 and 2023, the proportion of graduates amongst the young Italian emigrants has almost doubled, rising from 25.7 per cent to 44.2 per cent. The vast majority of respondents live in a European country: Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany and France are the most appealing destinations.

There are three main factors driving young graduates to pursue their careers abroad: low wages – cited by 8 out of 10 respondents – a work culture perceived as outdated, slow bureaucracy and cronyism. According to the research, young people are affected by workplace dynamics that lack meritocracy and do little to recognise their skills. At an international level, the wage gap between Italia and the host countries has widened dramatically between 2000 and 2024, to Italia’s disadvantage: with Germany, for example, the gap has risen from +14 per cent to +36 per cent.

The top priority is a substantial increase in pay and the guarantee of adequate career opportunities. This must be accompanied by greater transparency and meritocracy in recruitment, appraisals and career progression. Another priority for the Government must be the modernisation of the public administration, to ensure a more efficient system and a reduction in red tape.

Specifically, there are differences in needs based on gender: women are calling for equality with their male colleagues, a better work-life balance and adequate opportunities, whilst men are primarily calling for higher pay. In general, the vast majority (83 per cent) of young people living abroad would return to Italia if salaries were higher, and 79 per cent are calling for a more merit-based system.