Over 129 thousand young Italians have repatriated from abroad in the last five years, with a strong growth trend compared to 2011. The data from the Focus of Fondazione Studi Consulenti del Lavoro «The return of young people from abroad: numbers and trends» describe «a consolidating trend: returns to Italy for every 100 transfers abroad were 26 in the five-year period 2011-2015, they became 31 in the following one, for reach 40 between 2021 and 2025. The data concerns young people between 18 and 39 who have decided to return to Italy after an experience abroad. The focus describes them as “a small army that makes no fuss”.
The average age for return is 29.6 years: mature young people who have probably decided to repatriate after a period of training or professional experience. According to research on a sample of Italians abroad, 41.5% indicate these reasons behind the decision to move across the border. Surprisingly, among the destinations of young talents returning to Italy, the South is by no means at the rear, with 31.7% of returns. The decision to return to Italy often goes beyond just assessments relating to salary, to embrace a broader dimension of personal well-being.
Although the majority of repatriates already had the security of a job upon their return, as many as 37% found work only after returning to Italy. And looking back, those who decided to repatriate do not regret their choice: more than 70% say they are more satisfied with their personal situation; while 53.5% consider the professional one to be on par or better.
Looking at the geography of the returns, it emerges that the majority come from Germany and the United Kingdom, with 42 repatriations for every 100 expatriations, well above the European average of 32.5. Among the destinations of young talents returning to Italy, Lombardy comes first with 19.8%. In the South, Sicily alone attracts 9.2% of young repatriates, neck and neck with Lazio, at 9%.
Sicily attractive for those returning from abroad, 12 thousand more young people in 5 years
Sicily welcomes 9.2% of young Italians returning from abroad, only Lombardy does better (19.8%). The island is among the regions in which returns have grown the most in recent years: between the five-year period 2016-2020 and 2021-2025 the increase was 52.3%, immediately behind Valle d’Aosta (65.5%) and Basilicata (54.5%). This is what emerges from a dossier by the Labor Consultants, which processed Istat data. In the last 5 years, Sicily has been chosen by 11,908 Italians, aged between 18 and 39, who previously resided abroad: 52.9% more than the previous five years when there were 7,787 repatriations.
The share of Sicilians who decide to make the opposite choice and move abroad fell by 14.1%: there were 34,295 in the five-year period 2016-20, they were 29,454 in the period 2021-25. The return-departure ratio is consequently growing: 40 returns out of 100 transfers compared to 22 out of 100 in the previous five years. Those who chose Sicily moved mainly to Messina and its province: 91.3%. Followed by Enna with 75.6%, Ragusa with 74.9%, Caltanissetta with 66.7%, Trapani with 61.8%, Palermo with 58.1%. Lower values for Agrigento with 48.3%, Syracuse with 31.1% and Catania bringing up the rear with just 27.5%. Ragusa, however, is the province that records the increase in the percentage of those who have moved abroad (ratio between the last two five-year periods): +26.9%. Messina follows, +15.1%. In the rest of the provinces the sign is negative: Enna -26.4%, Catania -25.5%, Caltanissetta -24.7%, Agrigento -24.4%, Palermo -19.5%, Trapani -7.4%, Syracuse -6.5%. In the relationship between repatriations and transfers, Enna is the province with the most positive data: 49 returns out of 100 departures. Agrigento follows with 46.8, Trapani 45.8, Caltanissetta 44.7, Catania 40, Palermo 39.4, Siracusa 37.2, Messina 36.3, Ragusa 36.1.
«Repatriations are an increasingly important phenomenon for the country. For this reason it is important not only to encourage the return – a process already underway – but also to create the conditions so that the choice can be long-lasting and to fully exploit the experiences gained abroad”, commented the president of the Order of employment consultants Rosario De Luca.