Almost half of young Europeans dream of a healthcare career, but not in Italy

What do the new generations dream of? What do they expect from the world of work? Research commissioned by Ipsos and Clariane Foundationpresent in Italy with the health network Corianprovides more than some food for thought.

The survey aims to shed light on theattractiveness of health professions among young people (between 16 and 20 years old) in France, Germania, Italia, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom e Spain. First of all, 75% are convinced they will find a job after studying, while the remaining 25% say they are worried. The data is also similar in Italy (74%), one of the countries analyzed with the highest youth unemployment rate. Despite a general climate of trust, what is striking is the not so low percentage of young people, not even in their twenties, who approach the world of work with evident scepticism.

Mental health the most sought after sector

But what are the criteria that new generations use to evaluate a profession? Significantly, looking at the average of the seven countries, the salary level is only fifth place. At the first there is a fair balance between life and work, secondly the charm of the profession. It follows the atmosphere and relationships in the workplace. Fourth, the correspondence of the chosen job with one’s values. The sectors for which young people are most fascinated are those of luxurydell’education and, in third place, le health care professionswhich are even the first choice in Netherlands and the second in France, Belgium e United Kingdom. In the healthcare world, the most sought-after careers are those related to mental health (66%), ahead of paramedics (61%) e medici (60%); the nursing profession (49%) and the roles of social and health workers (45%) are less attractive.

Health professions are not very attractive to young Italians

However, things are slightly different if we focus only on the data ofItalia. First of all, among the factors for choosing one’s profession, ahigh attention also for salary levels (58%) and for the opportunity for career advancement (54%). Here too the career in luxury it is the most sought after, with as many as 62% of young people who would choose this sector. Followed by that of telecommunications and internet. L’art and culture takes third place, far exceeding the European average of 38% with 49%. However, it is less attractive for young Italians compared to their peers from other EU countries, excluded Germania e Spaincareer in healthcare field, which slips to tenth place. It is significant that what makes the healthcare sector in Italy unattractive is not the workload, as happens in most of the EU, but the irregularity of work and night and weekend shifts. Other obstacles are the difficulty of being in contact with illness and suffering, and, much higher than the EU average, the duration of studies. In short, an aging country and a national health service in deep trouble on the one hand. On the other hand, the expectations of young people, who dream of finding a profession in line with their values, which can be useful to society and, at the same time, respect a healthy work-life balance and which can ultimately satisfy them economically. A clear gap between desire and reality, which casts many shadows on the future.

“The decline in ‘vocations’ in healthcare is a systemic element, we cannot think of addressing the growing demand for care and healthcare by recalling retired doctors or simply increasing places in universities”, explains the president and ceo of Korian Italia, Federico Guidoni. Instead, according to the CEO, it is necessary to make the profession attractive again (and suitable for “young people”), with synergistic work between public and private sectors: “The data highlight a wide gap between the aspirations of young people and their perception of the healthcare professions, especially regarding drivers considered fundamental such as work-life balance, hourly flexibility and salary. The private and public sectors are called to dialogue and create a system on this front too, to be ready for the challenges of the future”.