Italians abroad: why do they emigrate?
With Claudia, we kicked off a new series of articles dedicated to migrant scientists who from Italy, have decided to pursue their careers abroad with the intention of analysing this phenomenon and understanding the similarities and differences with the stories told so far. Often the debate on the topic in Italy is alarming and characterized by concepts such as brain drain. A phenomenon internationally known as Human Capital Flight, and which indicates the high rate of migration of highly educated or skilled people to countries where there are better opportunities and living standards. A migration that according to the World Population Review affects mainly countries on the African continent, Central America and the Caribbean, and countries such as China, South Korea, the Philippines, Iran and Taiwan. Consequently, the Italian phenomenon when compared internationally does not show significant data but becomes of interesting comparison with other European countries.
According to a study by the Fondazione Nord EstD, there are about 550 thousand young Italians under 35 who migrated abroad between 2011 and 2023, and according to an ISTAT report, in 2024 this migration increased by 20 percent reaching the highest rate since the 2000s. A phenomenon that, because of its magnitude, has been compared to the flow of migration that, from the late 1800s onward, led thousands of Italians to seek better opportunities overseas.
Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom are the main destinations. People are driven to leave not only by the precarious nature of the working system, and the low economic remuneration, which is also due to insufficient state investment, but also because of the disappointment of not seeing their sacrifices and educational efforts rewarded. Those migrating are mainly young graduates and highly qualified professionals seeking job opportunities, better prospects and career developments, and contexts that better value merit, skills and talent. Other aspects taken into consideration are greater international openness and social inclusion, and a greater tendency to listen to the needs of workers. In addition, a higher perceived well-being and a more optimistic view of the future mean that only a small percentage of people plan to return to Italy. According to the data, it is possible to live a better life abroad, both professionally and personally, and be happier. Better access to welfare services and shorter waiting times also play a part.
The percentage of people having a job is higher abroad than in Italy. According to Almalaurea, 70 percent of neo-doctoral students do not consider returning to Italy due to fears about being trapped in a country with a bleak future. However, the professionals who emigrate are precisely those in greatest demand in Italy and these will be in increasingly short supply also because of the constant demographic decline and the decreasing number of college graduates in the country. Moreover, the lack of young people in the labor market, results in less innovation in the different sectors.
Countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Croatia are in the same situation as Italy, with around 20 percent of the population holding a university degree. In Portugal and Germany, this figure is around 30 per cent, whereas in Ireland, France and Spain, it is as high as 40 per cent. According to a European Union report, 46 regions are stuck in the so-called “talent trap”*. In Italy, the effects will be seen in the long term. With an increasing number of young people missing from the civic and economic life, the country’s public debt, healthcare and pension systems will become unsustainable.
*The following factors are taken into account: the net migration rate of young people, the percentage change in the number of people with a college degree, the percentage of people with a college degree in the 25–64 age group and the change in population size in this age group.
Ton learn more, we recommend reading the following articles which address the topic in more detail:
- Brain Drain Countries 2025
- Brain drain, Italians abroad returning home
- DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS_YEAR 2024 (Page 8)
- Italy’s young people intending to move abroad are symbolic of a country in decline, hit by a crisis of confidence and of the future – Fondazione Pirelli
- Over the last 20 years, more than 3 million young Italians have fled the country – Life in Italy