The project “Youth and the Labour Market” addresses the growing disconnect between young people and the labour market in Italy, a country marked by high youth unemployment, skill mismatch, and demographic decline.

Within a rapidly changing socio-economic landscape—shaped by technological
progress, crises, and shifting work values—the project aims to establish the University of Bergamo as a reference point for both research and policy making on youth employability. The two-year multidisciplinary initiative will produce a white paper on “Youth and work”, with the active involvement of local stakeholders (school representatives, public administrations, social partners and NGOs).

The paper will address the main challenges faced by the new generations in the local labour market (such as intergenerational mobility, the school-to work transition, the returns to higher education, job quality and poverty), promoting evidence- based policies to support youth inclusion, skills development, and sustainable socio-economic growth through the collaboration between the University, policy makers and other local actors,