Europe youth mobility and employment trends show regional disparities

Data from Eurostat and regional reports highlight shifting demographic and economic trends among young people in Southern and Eastern Europe. In Italy, Spain, and Greece, young adults tend to remain in the parental home significantly longer than their Northern European counterparts, often not achieving independence until age 30 or older. This delay is closely linked to lower youth employment rates; Italy currently holds the lowest youth employment rate in the EU at 47.6%.

In Italy, regional data shows varying trends in youth mobility. Sicily has seen a 52.3% increase in young people returning from abroad between 2021 and 2025, with the province of Ragusa showing a particularly high ratio of returnees to emigrants. Conversely, in Calabria, authorities are increasing university scholarship funds to 92 million euros to combat the ‘brain drain’ and encourage students to remain in the region.

Economic challenges such as low wages and high rental costs also impact autonomy. In Abruzzo, youth face precarious employment and salaries significantly below the national average, complicating their ability to enter the housing market. In Southern Europe, there is a notable trend where young people prioritize direct homeownership over renting once they do leave the family home.