Education, training, employment, and health of immigrants in Italy: Challenges in an ageing society

In Italy, a country facing population decline and ageing, the integration of immigrants—and especially of their descendants— represents a strategic lever for ensuring social and economic sustainability. Migration dynamics contribute to demographic balance, but they also pose significant challenges in terms of inclusion, equity, and social cohesion, particularly concerning the socio-economic and educational conditions of immigrant populations and those with a migratory background. Efforts to promote integration and overcome both visible and invisible barriers should focus on four key areas: 1) school inclusion; 2) active social and political participation; 3) entry into the labour market; 4) promotion of physical and mental health. Italy’s approach to integrating immigrants and their descendants presents both a challenge and an opportunity for growth and cohesion, achievable only by recognising and valuing the positive contributions of foreign arrivals.