One of the most relevant issues at the European and international level is undoubtedly unemployment. Despite efforts to promote employment and support young people entering the workforce, the problem remains widespread.

This article aims to provide a detailed snapshot of the current situation by analyzing the most recent data and outlining a path towards a more concrete and promising future in terms of work for everyone.

 

According to the most recent data provided by ISTAT, the unemployment rate in May 2024 stands at 6.8%, with the youth unemployment rate at 20.5%.

These numbers, although still significant, show a slight improvement compared to the past.

Comparing the March-May 2024 quarter with the previous one (December 2023-February 2024), employment increased by 0.6%.

In addition, the number of employees in May 2024 exceeds that of May 2023 by 2.0%, corresponding to 462,000 more workers. The employment rate increased by 0.9 percentage points in a single year.

These figures, although encouraging, highlight the need to continue on the current path to further reduce unemployment.

 

Looking at ISTAT's historical information on employment and unemployment, even more interesting data emerge:

• The unemployment rate among 15- to 24-year-olds, for example, has gone from 40% in 2013 to 22.7% in 2023, almost halving in a decade.
• In the 15-29 age range, during the same period, the rate decreased even more significantly, falling by 8 percentage points, from 24.7% to 16.7%.
   

In general, unemployment in the 15-64 age group decreased from 12.5% in 2013 to 7.8% in 2023, showing a positive and steady trend over time, as well as a strong resilience of our Italian companies, which, despite the periods they go through, always manage to handle the situation by presenting new solutions to the market.

Additionally, the new generations, particularly those up to age 34, are managing to emerge and find a place in the job market, although the situation remains more challenging for the 35-64 age group.

 

Despite the progress made, it is undeniable that young people face even greater difficulties entering the workforce compared to previous generations.

It is equally undeniable that their mentality, likely due to a different family life compared to in the past, leads them to make choices that previously would not have been considered, such as remaining inactive and giving up on seeking employment.

According to ISTAT data, more than 4 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 have been inactive since 2006, a number that has remained more or less constant to date.

In May 2024, there were 4,319,000 inactive young people, plus an additional 1,507,000 people between the ages of 25 and 34.

A number of sociologists believe that in recent times, social networks, which many young people "live for," have fostered a mentality aimed at a new goal: greater self-affirmation.

What does this mean?

The magnitude of one's persona and, therefore, their personal satisfaction depends on factors such as the number of followers, positive comments received, the number of views... In the best-case scenario, a positive trend can lead to the realization of the dream of becoming a famous influencer and earning tens of thousands of euros.

It is clear that this has developed into a paradoxical situation where young people do not care if they are unemployed or not. If true values – including the necessity of making sacrifices and concessions – are not taught at home, it becomes clear why we are experiencing this situation.

 

The shortage of personnel is a problem that many Italian companies complain about, especially concerning technical roles.

This phenomenon raises questions about the causes behind it and the possible solutions to adopt.

On the one hand, it is clear that today's companies offer training and professional growth opportunities, but young people often struggle to identify these possibilities or, in some cases, do not want to seize them lest they have to give up their personal hobbies or their free time.

In addition, there seems to be a lack of an effective link between the educational system and the job market, especially regarding the acquisition of specific technical skills.

To address this problem, some companies have decided to intervene directly by creating internal training programs.

One example of this is Mozzanica, a company active in the industrial, Oil & Gas, and Marine sectors, which has several open positions for technical roles such as Project Manager, Sales Engineer, and Project Engineer.

To ensure ongoing training and continuous professional development for its staff, Mozzanica has created a training program for junior positions that will continue throughout their career, including mandatory and additional specialized training.

In this way, the company aims to bridge the gap between the skills acquired in school and those required by the job market, giving its employees a well-organized and goal-oriented professional growth trajectory.

 

The analysis of the employment situation in Italy shows signs of improvement, especially with regard to the younger generations.

However, some critical issues remain.

To address these challenges, it is necessary to intervene on multiple fronts:

We must add, however, that the earliest education occurs at home, in the family.

Schools and businesses can never replace the roles of parents, who must be the first to teach their children the right values, enabling them to face life's challenges with determination and courage.

In this way, it is possible to create a generation that is courageous and determined, which will undoubtedly benefit businesses and, consequently, society as a whole.