Giorgia Meloni addresses youth emigration and talent retention in Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has addressed the issue of youth emigration, stating that the country must become a place where young people choose to arrive or return, rather than a place they feel forced to leave. Speaking at events in Rome and Parma, Meloni emphasized that while seeking new challenges abroad is a valid choice, it becomes a problem when leaving is the only viable option for young Italians to find value and opportunity.

To combat this trend, Meloni highlighted several government initiatives. These include a major linguistic training and mobility program designed to allow 150,000 students to study and learn foreign languages in European nations. Additionally, a record investment has been made to enable nearly 270,000 young people to participate in civil service programs both within Italy and abroad, with the experience providing access to 15% of public sector job competitions.

Meloni noted that while youth unemployment is at a historic low and stable employment is increasing, structural issues remain. She identified the need for higher wages, more adequate professional opportunities, efficient services, quality education, and fair housing prices to retain talent, particularly in southern regions facing significant depopulation.