Benedetta Cosmi, coordinator of the Eurispes Laboratory on Human Capital: we need the courage to invest in training. Neet increase and denatality, the challenges of the future
On October 28, the coordinator of the Eurispes Laboratory on Human Capital, Benedetta Cosmi, participated in an initiative entitled “Connessioni” (Connections), organised by La Nuova Sardegna under the patronage of the Fondazione di Sardegna.
A series of five meetings to address the island’s challenges on topics such as human capital, infrastructure and transport, research and innovation, energy, and tourism, with the aim of gathering ideas, reflecting on Sardinia’s opportunities and cultural identity and connections with the rest of the world, and envisaging a better future. Therefore, the central themes of the discussion were human capital and competences.
During her speech, the coordinator of the Eurispes Laboratory highlighted some data: «In Italy, according to ISTAT surveys, the number of NEETs aged between 15 and 34 was about 5.7 million (5,725,000) in May 2023. Specifically, there are 4,259,000 in the 15-24 age group and 1,466,000 in the 25-34 age group. The 15-34 year olds represent only 13.8 million inhabitants in Italy, according to the same data. These numbers tell us that almost a third, if they work and earn, do not do so in a structure known to the labour market. Illegally, then, with new professions that are not “observed”? There is also another aspect to highlight: since 2008, year in which the birth rate recorded its highest value since the beginning of the 2000s, resident births in Italy have systematically decreased (-31.8%). Denatality is set to continue in 2023, with about 3,500 less births than in the same period of 2022.
This country has neglected the importance of ideas for too long: under the guise of a lack of resources, Italy has become unaccustomed to thinking, forecasting, planning, resulting in a loss of human capital. As Eurispes, we are attempting to assemble the elements necessary to face this challenge. Sardinia has a unique opportunity to reverse this trend; like others, it has the chance to become an important benchmark, especially for young people. However, in order to do so, it is essential to offer a method – for example, I am thinking about the university campus approach – since individualism can lead to dispersion. Work and the workplace are changing, companies are losing the emotional bond between employees and careers within the same structure. We need to react by means of more learning communities.
As far as Sardinia is concerned, the new challenge is attractiveness, bringing people from abroad. If we have the courage to invest in training and human capital, not only will we be able to keep our talents here, but also Sardinians who had gone to pursue their dreams far from the island will return to Sardinia. The challenge is to make Italy, and therefore Sardinia, a place where people can find what they seek, and experience, elsewhere. This means appealing to and reflecting on what they find when they move away, to other countries. In order to be a sought-after destination, we also have to guarantee good infrastructure and a stimulating environment».
