by InTrieste
As Italy faces a sharp demographic decline, the Friuli Venezia Giulia region is taking new steps to connect education with employment. At a press event in Udine on Thursday, Regional Councilor for Labor, Education, and Research Alessia Rosolen said that demographic contraction is among “the most critical elements” shaping the country’s competitiveness. She added that the trend “requires alternative paths to meet the growing difficulty faced by universities, technical institutes, and companies in finding students and workers.”

Rosolen spoke at the presentation of Edu Job Fairs, a new integrated platform for higher education and employment promotion organized by the Association of Graduates in Industrial Engineering (ALiG) with the support of the regional government. The initiative represents the evolution of the long-running Fiera del Lavoro FVG, transforming it into a broader, experimental event that unites for the first time the region’s two universities, four higher technical institutes (ITS), and more than 70 national and international companies.
The three-day event, scheduled for November 13–15, 2025, aims to enhance the region’s appeal to students and professionals from across Italy and abroad by linking education, enterprise, and job opportunities. “With Edu Job Fairs, Friuli Venezia Giulia positions itself as a laboratory of innovation for education and employment,” Rosolen said. “We want to build networks and invest in attractiveness for those coming from abroad, whether to study or to work.”
The fair will include three main components. On November 13, the International Education Fair will present the academic and technical education offerings of Friuli Venezia Giulia, emphasizing international promotion and engagement with expatriate communities and European academic networks. On November 14, the International Job Fairwill bring together more than 70 companies offering nearly 1,000 job openings. The final day, November 15, will feature the Fiera del Lavoro FVG at the Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine, with interviews, talks, and meetings between employers, students, and jobseekers.
Two headline events will close the fair. Journalist and historian Paolo Mieli will give a lecture on reconciliation after conflicts and the history of Israel, followed by an interview session with Amadeus, the television presenter and artistic director, conducted by students from MV Scuola.
Rosolen said that the initiative aligns with new legislation on social innovation that the regional government will soon introduce, focusing on the value of human capital. “It is essential to offer concrete and innovative responses to the needs of our production system,” she said, “including the attraction of new talent to the labor market.”
By combining education, innovation, and labor initiatives, the region hopes to counteract demographic decline and strengthen its position as a hub for opportunity in northeastern Italy.