L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 10 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE PAULA REYNOLDS T he gold standard for job s ucces s has always seemed pretty straight-forward: do well in school, go to a university, study hard, gradu- ate, get a great paying job, live happily ever after. If only it were that easy. Across the globe, economies are struggling amidst a growing shift of markets and commodi- ties. Italy's youth, however, live this struggle more tangibly than most other EU countries. With current unemployment for 20- somethings hovering around 40.3% compared to Italy's over- all unemployment rate of 11.4%, the crisis is real. While southern Italy typically experiences greater unemploy- ment, the lack of secure jobs for the millennial generation is a country-wide phenomenon. Cau- sation is multi-factorial. Labor laws tend to favor the employer over the employee. One such law requires an employer to offer a permanent contract only after 30 months; otherwise -- let the employee go. With vast numbers continually seeking work, it's a revolving door that benefits you-know-who. Laura M erotto is a young Ph.D level research scientist whose merits include interna- tional recognition. Despite her qualifications, she relocated to Switzerland last January where the opportunity for permanent work is much greater. "I see a trend for people having to leave Italy if they wish to pursue a sat- isfactory job…. it's a very dif- ferent world compared to our parents'." Merotto went on to say many educated young pro- fessionals who remain in Italy are forced to live at home, as affording rent or owning a home are out of reach. Having a family is also something many feel they cannot afford, furthering Italy's steadily decreasing population. The institution of family- owned businesses is alive and well in Italy. Recent statistics place 85% of businesses in this category. While the idea as a whole is positive, the effects on hiring for the younger generation are not. Raccomandazioni – making use of one's connections – remains an entrenched custom. Jobs are passed from one famil- ial generation to the next, setting up distrust and fear in hiring an outsider with a degree. Qualifi- cations or ability are low in importance in this scenario; thus, the qualified leave the country for merit-based opportunities. H o w ever, all is not los t amongst this "forgotten genera- tion." A trend towards reinvent- ing the labor force is taking hold at the hands of young, creative minds who choose to remain in their homeland. A degree might be of limited value, but determi- nation to forge a new path is opening up opportunities for many. Simone Celli of Florence is one of these. Working as a barista for a number of years led Simone to cultivate a passion for the world of coffee. When his place of employment changed hands, Simone took the leap and found full time employment as an instructor in Mokaflor Coffee Roastery's "Espresso Academy" in Florence. His passion not only allowed him to find a new niche, but also to address the job crisis. "Finding a job in these times is not easy for young people. That is why we offer one-day courses at half-price for the unemployed and people under age 23." Another part of this trend is a return to jobs focusing on the land and Italy's natural resources. Domenico Vivino of Calabria gave up plans to find work as a sociologist and instead bought an abandoned silkworm farm. "I came back to the coun- tryside. This is our future, our origins, our roots." With some financial help from the communi- ty, he and his girlfriend have forged a successful business cre- ating silk and articles of silk. As Luca Bruschi, director of Italy's Via Francigena Associa- tion, states, this return to the land and artisanal products has become "the cool thing," as well. His observations across Italy's countryside, as well as knowing peers that have chosen this path, prove that these types of busi- nesses started by young gradu- ates have increased by 35% in the past two years. "Young peo- ple now dream to come back to the land, to practice something tangible. It deals with what's tra- ditional and offers stability but is also trendy." He notes that the number of wineries, craft beer breweries, and handmade cloth- ing and food products produced by these entrepreneurs who've reinvented themselves increases yearly. Merotto also stated that she has seen this agricultural based trend with friends that have remained in Italy. Often, she said, they have some family con- nection to a parcel of land, or find help purchasing one, and open agriturismi and other farm production facilities that cater to tourists. Although not a part of the mil- lennial generation, Ettore Sola, a professional videographer in his 50s, is fostering this same trend. Sola and a friend formed a ranch- ing partnership several years ago. Their goal is to import quality Angus cattle to the lush Apen- nine hills surrounding Piacenza for the production of all-natural beef – a market only lightly tapped in Italy. Sola is investing in this project to pave the way for an agricultural future for his young adult children. He states, "I want a future on the land for my daughter and sons, living and working in touch with nature." Additionally, as with many other forward-thinking ventures, Sola's ideas include full sustainability for the environment, as well as reinvigorating the economic decline in this region. His daugh- ter, along with his partner's sis- ter, have both left traditional pur- suits and are actively learning the ranching industry. This agricultural movement is also boosting Italy's economic recovery. According to Coldiret- ti, Italy's largest farm associa- tion, a 9.3% growth rate of agri- cultural businesses owned or led by people under 35 was noted in 2017. Start-up can be daunting, however, and assistance is now in place. EU subsidies for under- 35 farmers are 25% higher than normal, while insurance breaks are in place for those under 40. The Italian Agricultural Ministry is assisting via an online data base of state land for sale with interest free loans and tax breaks available for young entrepre- neurs. What's perhaps a silver lining is the collaboration being forged between the aging farming popu- lation and energized youth. Italy's Confagricoltura has set in place a three-year mentoring pro- gram pairing old with young. Perks include profit sharing and tax breaks…and a lifetime of knowledge and encouragement being handed off to the next gen- eration as Italy's precious tradi- tions find new life through young hands. More and more young Italians are returning to their roots and try to create their future in agriculture The Italian job Renaissance: Italy's youth reinvent employment opportunities

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