Too little, too late?

Like many EU nations, Italy is struggling to hang on to young talent

Italy—with its mellow winters, crystal waters and heady wines—may seem like the perfect place to retire after a stellar academic career and a scientific award or two. But what if you are 28 and dream of winning a Nobel prize? Where do you go? Maybe not to Lombardy, according to the stats. A 2018 study by Istat, the country’s statistics agency, showed that emigration of graduates from Italy more than doubled between 2009 and 2018, while Lombardy had the highest rate of outward migration for young people under 35. 

Migration is closely tied to education: a poll by Milan-based recruitment agency Bachelor found that two-thirds of local graduates consider leaving Italy a year after finishing university because they feel they cannot fully take advantage of their education at home.