Italian regions Padua, Trentino-Alto Adige reveal divergent youth employment data

In Padua province, the share of young people aged under 30 who are neither studying nor working (NEET) is among the lowest in Italy. The province ranks 33rd overall in a quality‑of‑life index for youth, with only about 6 % of its 67,842 tertiary‑sector firms owned by entrepreneurs under 35. Patrizio Bertin, president of Confcommercio Veneto and Padova, highlighted the low NEET rate as evidence of an active young population.

A separate UNICEF‑based report shows that Trentino‑Alto Adige has the highest child‑labor rate in the country, with 22.5 % of 15‑ to 17‑year‑olds employed (7,716 of 34,228). The region also recorded a rise in work‑related injuries, reporting over 5,000 injury complaints between 2020 and 2024, including two fatal accidents. Most minor workers are in the services sector, especially restaurants and tourism, followed by agriculture.

Both reports illustrate contrasting youth‑employment conditions across Italian regions.