by InTrieste
In a bid to strengthen its labor market and address demographic challenges, the regional government of Friuli Venezia Giulia announced plans to refocus employment policies on young people and women, aiming to reduce pockets of unemployment and low-quality jobs in a region where 85 percent of the workforce already holds permanent contracts.
Alessia Rosolen, the regional councillor responsible for labor, education, research, universities, and family policy, outlined the strategy during a training session organized by the labor union Cisl on the recently passed regional law on social innovation. The measure, she said, seeks to reshape the welfare system by moving beyond temporary aid mechanisms and instead creating long-term structural support.
“Responding to the needs of women and young people means addressing the demographic issue,” Rosolen said, describing population trends as a core factor in the region’s long-term economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
The law on social innovation, approved this year by the regional council, consolidates existing policies within a broader social-welfare framework. It aims to support job training, apprenticeships and new housing models tied to welfare programs, while maintaining purchasing power, attracting talent, and encouraging investment.
Regional funding has grown significantly across key sectors cited by Rosolen. Training and employment resources rose from €18.1 million in 2018 to €21.9 million scheduled for 2025. Funding for family programs expanded sharply from €19.7 million to €98.5 million over the same period, while spending on education increased from €31.3 million to €88.3 million. Research investments grew more than fourfold, from €7.7 million to €33.6 million.
Rosolen also emphasized the region’s future labor needs, calling for a regulated and well-supported immigration system to ensure that foreign workers integrate successfully into local society and contribute to economic productivity.
The regional administration views social-policy coordination as a central element of the reform. Rosolen underscored the role of a consultative body dedicated to social-innovation policy, describing it as a deliberate move to involve labor unions and local stakeholders in long-term planning.
The event also featured remarks from Renata Della Ricca of Cisl and Massimo Tognolli, an official representing the city of Trieste.
