Sardinia faces decline in youth-led businesses due to demographic shifts

A report from the CNA Study Center warns of a significant decline in youth-led businesses in Sardinia, driven by a sharp drop in the young population. Between 2014 and 2024, the number of businesses headed by individuals under 35 fell by 26.6%, dropping from 17,491 to 12,845 units. This contraction exceeds the Italian national average of 24%.

The region is facing a dual demographic challenge: an aging entrepreneurial base and a shrinking pool of potential successors. The number of individual business owners aged 70 or older has risen to 9,476, representing 10.1% of the total. Simultaneously, the population of residents aged 20 to 39 decreased by 23.5% between 2015 and 2026, a decline significantly higher than the national average of approximately 10%.

CNA highlights that this trend threatens the island's productive fabric, which relies heavily on micro and small family-run artisanal businesses. The organization is calling on institutions to provide immediate responses regarding credit, training, and business succession planning.