“Six thousand euros if you come to live in Varese”: why even a city in the rich area of ​​Italy is looking for inhabitants

In an Italy entering the demographic winter, there is a good-a merchandise, the economists would say-which becomes more and more sought after: “human capital”, the population, the inhabitants. People in the flesh and bones, writes the daily Corriere della Sera, quoted by Rador.

“We offer 6,000 euros as a grant non-reimbursable to anyone who comes to live here,” it is stated in an announcement of the Chamber of Commerce in Varese. Specifically: what does it mean when, not a distant mountain valley, but the heart of the industrial north of Italy is obliged to look for people because it no longer finds the workforce needed to maintain its economic and social structure?

“It is an experiment, an test: we are worried about the health of our territories and companies,” explains Mauro Vitiello President of the Chamber of Commerce in Varese, an area of ​​800,000 inhabitants, the third in Italy as a density of companies per square kilometer.

A few days ago, Vitiello presented the project that provides for the granting of a “bonus” of 6,000 euros, staggered for three years, to those who decide to move here with a employment contract.

Italy lacks skilled workers

Varese is the same as the rest of Italy, where, according to the monthly report of Unioncamere, 460,000 jobs were offered in May. But only half of the employers' ads found their candidate with the necessary professional profile.

“We do not find the specialists we need,” says Vitiello, “and this despite the fact that there are two universities in the province of Varese, and the technical institutes guarantee an immediate employment rate of 94%.”

“But at every 10 young people who graduate here, 4 I choose to move elsewhere,” he points out.

Even in this case, the city of Lombard is no exception, but is part of a national phenomenon: in 2023, according to IstAT, 21,000 Italians under 35 have moved abroad and almost always about young people with a high level of education.

Lower wages in Italy than in the big European countries

Corriere della Sera emphasizes a crucial point: salaries, which in Italy are on average lower than in the rest of Europe (24,000 euros per year, 36,500 in the Netherlands).

“Very true”, acknowledges Vitllo, “and we suffer in particular by the competition of Switzerland (where salaries are 25% higher), Germany and even Milan. To a newly employed we can guarantee 1,700-1.800 euros.”

He states that the “unique opportunity” you see on the table wants to be an additional attraction.

“Those who choose to come to Varese tell them: there is a territory that takes care of you, offers you a job, but also services, medium, quality of life. We are in a global competition, so we have to find solutions,” he points out.

Photo article: Anna Pushkareva | Dreamstime.com.