Italy is continuing to lose a significant share of its most qualified young professionals, according to the latest migration data released by the national statistics agency. In 2024, the migration balance for Italian citizens aged 25 to 34 was sharply negative: roughly 25,000 left the country, while just over 4,000 returned, resulting in a net loss of nearly 21,000 graduates.

Many analysts compare the trend to the mass emigration waves of the late nineteenth century, though with a crucial difference. While Italy's poorest citizens once left in search of basic opportunities, today's departures are increasingly made up of highly educated young people seeking better careers, higher salaries and greater professional prospects abroad.

The problem is particularly evident in northeastern Italy. Padua recorded the highest share of graduates among emigrants at 65 percent, followed by Trieste and Venice at 61 percent and Udine at 60 percent. The figures suggest that even some of Italy's most economically dynamic regions are struggling to retain skilled workers.

The situation is even more severe in southern Italy. According to the SVIMEZ report One Country, Two Migrations, the population aged 18 to 35 in the South fell by 7.6 percent between 2019 and 2026, a decline of more than 313,000 people. Nearly one million young people moved from southern regions to central and northern Italy between 2002 and 2024, with graduates accounting for more than a third of departures. Excluding return migration, the South lost more than 500,000 people aged 25 to 34, including approximately 270,000 university graduates. Experts warn that without substantial investment in research, innovation and career opportunities, Italy risks further weakening its long-term competitiveness and economic potential.