by Guisela Chiarella
The region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, with its breathtaking views of the Adriatic and Alpine charm, faces a quiet but profound crisis: its population is aging, and young residents, especially women, are leaving at an alarming rate.
According to the latest Italiani nel Mondo report by the Migrantes Foundation, an organization linked to Italy’s Conference of Bishops, Friuli Venezia Giulia has one of the highest rates of female emigration in the country. Between 2022 and 2023, 2,158 people left the region, with 48.8% of them being women—a level among the highest in Italy.
“It’s not entirely surprising, but it is worrisome,” said Alessio Fornasier, a professor of demography at the University of Udine. “Our region is aging rapidly, and young people are struggling to find space here. It’s healthy for them to seek experiences abroad, but it’s disheartening that young people from other countries aren’t choosing to come here.”
As part of our exploration, we visited the University of Trieste campus to ask students about their future plans. Many expressed a desire to seek opportunities abroad, citing Italy’s limited job prospects and economic challenges as major factors.
“It’s hard to envision a stable future here,” said one engineering student, who plans to move to Germany after graduation. “I want to use my skills where I know they’ll be valued, and unfortunately, that doesn’t feel like it’s going to be in Italy.”
Another student studying international relations noted the appeal of countries like the United Kingdom and Switzerland. “There are so many opportunities there for young people, especially women. I’m not sure I see those same doors open here,” she explained, echoing the concerns of many students on campus.
These conversations highlight not only the ambition and potential of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s youth but also the disconnect between their aspirations and what the region—and Italy more broadly—currently offers. Many feel that building a future abroad seems more accessible and promising than attempting to find their footing in an aging and economically stagnant region.
Indeed, the data from Friuli Venezia Giulia speaks to a broader demographic dilemma across Italy, where the allure of foreign cities with promising economic stability and career potential outweighs the appeal of returning home. Since 2006, the number of Italians living abroad has doubled, surpassing 6.1 million. Many of those leaving are in their prime—55% are between the ages of 20 and 39, a trend that raises questions about Italy’s ability to nurture the talent it invests in during their education.
The impact of this trend is even more severe in the context of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s stagnant population growth and aging demographics. With limited job prospects, especially in high-growth sectors, younger residents see greater opportunities in places like Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and France, where careers and economic conditions are more favorable. These young professionals are rarely incentivized to return to Italy, where high costs of living and limited job security compound the economic challenges.
As of now, Friuli Venezia Giulia ranks fourteenth in Italy for the number of emigrants, with regions like Lombardy, Veneto, and Sicily leading the country’s departure rates. The majority of these migrants are from Italy’s northern regions, where departures account for roughly a quarter of all emigration nationwide.
For Friuli Venezia Giulia, the loss of young, educated residents—especially women—is a troubling signal of potential long-term decline. Without new arrivals from abroad to counterbalance the outflow, the aging region risks losing not only its youthful energy but also the skilled workforce needed to sustain local economies and communities.
And while Italian policymakers recognize the problem, solutions remain elusive. As Professor Fornasier warns, “The fact that our young people leave isn’t unusual; what’s saddening is the lack of young people from elsewhere coming to take their place.”
For now, as Italy grapples with this generation’s exodus, regions like Friuli Venezia Giulia must confront the likelihood that the picturesque towns they know may grow quieter with each passing year.
