by Guisela Chiarella
Friuli Venezia Giulia is a corner of Italy known for its postcard beauty, borderland culture and strong industrial tradition. Yet behind the calm façade, the region is confronting a demographic challenge that threatens its future: its population is aging, and young residents — particularly women — are increasingly choosing to build their lives elsewhere.
According to the most recent Italiani nel Mondo report by the Migrantes Foundation, Friuli Venezia Giulia recorded one of the country’s highest shares of female emigration in 2023. Of the 2,158 people who left the region between 2022 and 2023, nearly half — 48.8 percent — were women, placing the region among Italy’s leaders in female departures.
“It’s not entirely surprising, but it is worrisome,” said Alessio Fornasier, a demography professor 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.”
At the University of Trieste, the sentiment is visible among students planning their futures. Many cite Italy’s limited employment prospects and a challenging economic climate as reasons to seek opportunities elsewhere.
“It’s hard to envision a stable future here,” said an engineering student who intends to move to Germany after graduation. “I want to use my skills where they’ll be valued, and right now that doesn’t feel like it’s in Italy.”
A student in international relations expressed similar concerns, naming the United Kingdom and Switzerland as appealing destinations. “There are so many opportunities for young people, especially women,” she said. “I don’t see that same openness here.”
Their comments reflect a wider national trend. Since 2006, the number of Italians living abroad has doubled, surpassing 6.1 million. More than half of those leaving are between the ages of 20 and 39 — a striking indicator for a country that invests heavily in education yet struggles to retain its graduates.
Friuli Venezia Giulia ranks fourteenth among Italian regions for total emigration, but the impact here is amplified by stagnant population growth and one of Italy’s oldest demographic profiles. Without a significant influx of new residents, the loss of young, educated workers — particularly women — poses long-term challenges for the labor market and social fabric.
“Departures themselves are not unusual,” Professor Fornasier said. “What is concerning is the lack of arrivals. We are not attracting young people from elsewhere who could balance the loss.”
From northern regions like Lombardy and Veneto to southern areas such as Sicily and Puglia, Italy has seen steady outflows of young adults seeking careers in Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France, where wages and job stability are perceived to be higher. Those who leave often do not return, citing higher living costs at home and limited professional mobility.
For Friuli Venezia Giulia — a region that prides itself on its cross-border identity and international outlook — the stakes are clear. The departure of young residents risks a slow erosion of local communities, shrinking the very talent pool needed to sustain economic growth and cultural vitality.
Policymakers across Italy have acknowledged the demographic challenge, but concrete solutions remain limited. In the meantime, the future of many small towns and mid-sized cities in this borderland region grows increasingly uncertain.
For now, the question confronting Friuli Venezia Giulia is whether it can keep its next generation close — or whether the sound of young voices will continue to fade as more look beyond the horizon for opportunity.
