Italy, many study in one field but work in another; only half of young Europeans find suitable employment

Brussels – Studying law and then ending up as a car mechanic, knowing how an engine works inside out, but instead of becoming a mechanic, becoming a marketing consultant. Or, training in international law and then earning a living in a call centre. Different scenarios, but not hypothetical ones. On the contrary, in the European Union, the problem of finding a job that is relevant to and aligned with one’s educational and training background affects nearly one in two young people. According to data released by Eurostat, at the end of 2024, “only” 56.4 per cent of men and women aged between 15 and 34 said they were working in their field of expertise. 

The situation described by the European statistical institute affects practically everyone: high school graduates, university graduates, high school graduates without a degree but with post-secondary training courses. This is therefore a workforce with a medium-to-high level of education that the EU is failing to capitalise on. This situation is typical of Italy above all, the lowest-ranked EU country in terms of its ability to employ and utilise young people’s knowledge. In Italy, only 41.6 per cent of those aged 15 to 35 report having found a job that matches their field of study. This is the worst rate in the entire EU, with a significant difference compared to Slovakia, which is second to last in this special ranking, at 46.2 per cent.

Is it the fault of the Italian system and its schools, or what is studied? Eurostat highlights that academic and educational background appear to play a role in subsequent integration into the labour market. Looking at studies undertaken and jobs obtained, “the best match was found in the health and welfare sector“, where 80.6 per cent of those with a high level of education worked in a field closely related to their studies. The best matches were then found in information and communication technologies (77 per cent) and education (73.6 per cent). In contrast, 52.2 per cent of young people with a high level of education who graduated in humanities had difficulty finding a relevant job, followed by those working in social sciences, journalism and information (59.1 per cent) and services (59.3 per cent).