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Not only escape: the job that makes you grow also exists in Italy. Let's tell the story

7 July 2025

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Europe has sent a clear message: to remain competitive, it must attract and retain talent. With the 'Union of Competences' initiative, the Commission has activated the EU Talent Pool, a platform for recruiting professionals from non-EU countries, flanked by a new visa strategy for excellent students and researchers. The aim is to compete globally, offering attractive conditions for those who want to train or work on the continent.

Italy, in this scenario, is called upon to take up the challenge: to reverse the brain drain and become an attractive country for young people, both Italian and foreign.

Beyond the rhetoric of 'better to leave'.

Every year thousands of young people leave Italy in search of better opportunities. In 2023 alone, more than 20,000 graduates under 35 emigrated. But the 'there is no hope' narrative is now partial and outdated. All over Italy, dynamic, technologically advanced and increasingly people-oriented enterprises are multiplying. These are often not very visible realities: not only multinationals, but also SMEs and family businesses that invest in innovation, training, sustainability and relationships. Our country is now a fertile ground for new businesses: at the end of 2024 there were over 11,500 innovative start-ups, with an ecosystem that is growing faster than the rest of the entrepreneurial fabric. Almost 3,700 start-ups are led by young people under 35, a sign of a new generation of entrepreneurs coming forward. On the industrial front, Italy remains Europe's second manufacturing powerhouse and is embracing digital transformation: the share of Italian companies (with at least 10 employees) using Artificial Intelligence has jumped from 5% to 8.2% in one year, and among large companies, one in three already employs AI solutions. These companies offer young people international experiences without having to leave the country: working in global teams, participating in projects abroad, interfacing with customers and partners all over the world while being based at home.

But to build a development model based on talent, clear levers are needed:

- Remuneration and welfare. Salary matters, but so does corporate welfare, cost-of-living sustainability and the quality of local services. We need public and company policies that make a decent life possible, not just a job.

- Professional growth. Young people look for environments where they grow: continuous training, certification of skills, international paths, mentoring, recognition of merit. The company is also a place for learning and professional development. According to a report by Assolombarda, companies that invest in continuous training programmes record a 15% increase in productivity and a 10% drop in staff turnover compared to those that do not. Training and developing one's employees, therefore, pays off.

- Reputation and pride. Being part of an innovative, ethical and recognised company creates motivation. The local area also counts: living in a connected, lively and welcoming community can make all the difference. Talented young people want to be able to take pride in the company they work for and the area where they live. It becomes crucial, therefore, to build a strong company brand, communicating values, mission and successes. An innovative, ethical and recognised company in its sector becomes a magnet for applications.

- Sustainability and impact. New generations choose those who invest in social and environmental issues. Companies that integrate these values into their business model naturally become attractive.

- Relationships and work culture. A healthy, collaborative environment in which one is comfortable with bosses and colleagues is decisive. So is the possibility to build relationships in the territory and in the world.

Italy has the resources to become a country to which not only to stay, but also to return. To achieve this, a new narrative is needed: realistic, but positive. A narrative that shows the existing possibilities and encourages institutions and companies to build attractive contexts that put people and their development at the centre.

If we know how to do this, we can truly say that in Italy you can work while living in the world. And be proud to stay there.

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Not only escape: the job that makes you grow also exists in Italy. Let's tell the story

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