Young people, over two out of three live with their parents. In 10 years almost 100 thousand graduates have made the suitcases

Over the past 10 years, 97 thousand young graduates have left Italy. In the decade 2014-2023, a constant increase in young Italians who choose to settle abroad was observed, while returning to Italy were decidedly more limited. This is highlighted by the annual report of Istat, presented in recent days. Over one million Italians has chosen to move abroad and, among these, more than a third (367 thousand) are young people aged between 25 and 34. Among the young expatriates, almost 146 thousand (39.7 percent) owned a degree at the time of departure. On the opposite front, the repatriations of young people of the same age group in the same period were about 113 thousand, of which just over 49 thousand graduates. In 2023 there was a real record of expatri of young graduates between 25 and 34 years of age: 21 thousand are counted (+21.2% on the previous year), « an unprecedented level since flows are monitored », highlights Istat.

The escape from the South

In ten years the North has lost over 48 thousand young graduates, the center about 16 thousand and the South just over 32 thousand. However, the North and the Center, thanks to the transfers of residence of young people from the South,
In the decade 2014-2023 they realize a net profit of 134 thousand respectively and over 13 thousand young graduates. In the South, however, the disadvantage is double: the transfers to the North are added to the losses abroad, with a negative overall balance of over 179 thousand young graduates.

Young people remain longer at home with their parents

If on the one hand an growing share of young people leave the country, on the other, those who remain struggling to enter the labor market and create their own independence, remaining to live with parents much longer than peers from other European countries do. Italy, in fact, is in fourth place in the European Union (after Croatia, Slovakia and Portugal) for the share of young people who remain in the family of origin longer: Over 2 young people of 18-34 years out of 3, against one in two of the EU average 27. « The stay in the family of origin has increased over the years, as a consequence of the difficulties of inserting and permanent of young people in the labor market », writes Istat. The phenomenon suffered an acceleration after the 2008-2012 crisis and, more recently, after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2024, over two thirds of 18-34 years old men lived with parents (67.7%), against 58.7% of women.

The demographic crisis affects 30% of companies

« Overall of economic activities, the general dynamics of the population and the postponement of the retirement age have determined, between 2011 and 2022, an aging of the employees. Our analyzes show that about 30% of companies are very exposed to aging of the workforce, « writes Istat in his report. The problem concerns above all companies with less than three employees, where it affects 35.1%, taking 17.4% in those between 3 and 9 employees, 3.7% in small companies between 10 and 49 employees.