Due to the increasing complexity and the rapid transformation of our society, a successful transition into adulthood is strongly conditioned by the possibility of acquiring and developing skills and abilities useful to meet ongoing changes. In this scenario, to prevent past inequalities from worsening and reemerging, it is necessary to guarantee everyone the possibility of designing their proper future consciously and with the right tools. 

Being aware of this, CrossThink-Lab launched, in October 2020, a work path dedicated to the theme of transition to the working life, which in this phase of intense changes is even more vulnerable.

According to the latest Istat report on Education Levels and Employment Returns (Istat, July 2020), in Italy, the graduate population growth is significantly slower than the rest of Europe and the employment rate of the latter is 5 points lower than the European average (81.4% versus 86.3%), a sign of a labor market that absorbs the young well-trained human capital with much difficulty and hesitation.

To this must be added the high rate of NEETs (young people not placed in an education program, training or employment) which in 2019 reached 22.2% against 12.5% of the European average, as well as data on'female employment being significantly lower than male employment, despite higher education levels.

Scientific studies identify young people’s lack of skills and experience requested by the Labour market and the weakness of the tools supposed to favor transition to working life to be among the main obstacles to an effective placement. This fragility becomes even more significant in a context characterized by rapid and profound social transformations not to mention the productive sphere and the COVID19 health emergency.

The growing complexities of society and the rapid transformations affecting them, in fact, demands young people to acquire and develop adequate skills, as well as adaptability and transformation, thus capable to partake the ongoing changes rather than undergo them. Therefore, it appears urgent to reflect on what these requirements are - in terms of skills and capacities - for a successful transition into adulthood and how to make them accessible to everyone.

CrossThink-LAB wants to help the reflection on young people’s difficult transition to the working life by evaluating the factors that determine an effective placement and the obstacles to be removed thus preventing past inequalities from worsening and new ones to be created .