by Leonardo Uba*
Why are there fewer and fewer young people in Ferrara?
As we saw just a few days ago in the local newspapers, the population of Ferrara is the oldest in the Region, with an average age of 50 years and the highest old age index. To make these data worse, we add the decline in the working population (15-64 years), as well as the residents who today number around 129 thousand, unlike the 133 thousand in 2020.
Furthermore, the socio-economic data of the area tell us that youth unemployment between 15 and 24 years old is also increasing compared to last year and, for this age group, one young person in four is looking for work. The loss of employment exceeds 2 thousand jobs, and the negative trend is heavier than even in 2020.
Furthermore, the Fair and Sustainable Wellbeing index tells us that many new graduates see Ferrara as a place from which to “escape” after their studies, not finding the right conditions to stay. The figure is worrying, especially if we consider that the University of Ferrara is a local excellence which, according to Almalaurea data, has a very high graduate employment rate: 76% for three-year graduates and 82% for master’s graduates.
Given these numbers, an administration must promote new agreements between UNIFE and the local business world, in order to create harmony between these sectors, which represent an invaluable resource for our territory.
Furthermore, it is necessary to point out that many opportunities arising from regional programs concerning young people and, in general, the employability of workers, have not been seized by the current city administration.
Then there remains the problem of the imbalance between supply and demand for labour, which affects one company out of two.
The depopulation of young people from Ferrara affects the Forese areas, i.e. the hamlets, even more. A possible solution could be the increase in school principals and training centers located, encouraging entrepreneurial policies in the various peripheral points of the city.
Finally, it is necessary to invest in solving the housing problem, preferably by redeveloping existing buildings without further concreting the ground, so as to attract young students and workers.
In this regard, a good practice could be the investment of resources to create new projects: for example the PNRR is a tool whose purposes include the strategic development of the territory.
Redoing roads and roundabouts (and then inaugurating them during the election campaign!) is useful but does not represent the long-range perspective that is needed.
It is not up to the undersigned to explain that our city is becoming increasingly subordinate to neighboring territories, with a high passive mobility that reduces Ferrara to the quiet place to go home in the evening, after working (and producing) elsewhere.
Let’s give young people the chance to create a future in our city, otherwise we will transform it into an open-air bed & breakfast.
*candidate on the Democratic Party list
Tags: Ferrara city young people
