Italy's young people 'discouraged'. Majority ready to emigrate

ROME - There was a time where Italians used to go abroad to make a new life. They came to the U.S., as well as other countries, and created a future for them and their families.
Then Italy moved on top of the list of the world's largest economies, becoming the seventh richest country in the world. And the emigration phase was suddenly gone.
But now the willingness to find a better spot to feed his own dreams and expectations seems to gain popularity once again.

The majority of young people in Italy are ready to go abroad to work and create their future and an even greater number say they are 'discouraged' over the situation in Italy today, according to a new report from the social research group Eurispes.

Needless to say, it is tough to make a direct connection between the past emigrations and the modern willingness to make a life change. Today’s young Italians have one or two degrees, they speak a good English and, generally speaking, they have a better understanding and knowledge of the world.

The 2012 Italy Report found that roughly 60% of Italians between the ages of 18 and 34 would, given the opportunity, leave Italy. And that “given the opportunity” probably describes at its best the main difference between these Italians and those who went through the same dilemma before.

The percentage of those who are ready to leave fell below 40%, among Italians between 35 and 44, while only 30% of Italians between 45 and 64 would leave the country and only 20% over the age of 65.
The possibility of finding employment was the greatest motive for emigrating, followed by a lower cost of living and a few other miscellaneous reasons.

Italy's unemployment rate is currently running at 8.6% with 30% of young people between 15 and 24 unable to find work.
The readiness to emigrate appeared to coincide with the findings in the Eurispes study which showed that 63.2% of Italians were discouraged by the general situation in Italy, while 57.7% felt there was little if anything they could do about it.

In fact, the majority of Italians quizzed in the poll had little or no desire to personally contribute to any recovery in Italy or work for the country's general interest, compared to a 40% who said they were ready to do what they can.
However, in regard to making sacrifices to help Italy out of its current situation, more than half of Italians said these were necessary and beneficial, compared to some who were skeptical over the possibility of sacrifices having any positive effect.

The most 'discouraged' group in Italy were without any doubt young people between 25 and 34, over 75% seeing only gloom in Italy's future, followed by those between 45-64 (63.8%) and 35-44 (60.5%), while among young people between 18 and 24 58.9% said they were discouraged and 56.6% of those over 65 felt the same.
The Eurispes report also found that many Italians did not feel they were politically represented and did not classify themselves in any particular political formation.

As we all know, there is still a big difference between declaring himself ready to leave and the actual decision to shut the door and take the plane with a one way ticket. Too many other factors are in play, especially in a country where kids grow up in a wealthy environment.
Nevertheless, the numbers above mean something, Italy cannot afford to pass on an entire generation, it has to get back on track.