Young People in Ticino: Departure and Failure to Return, the Political Position

Context

TL;DR

• Ticino loses 2,500 young people aged 20-35 annually.
• Lugano saw a 15% decrease in young population over a decade.
• Italy's 'Benessere Italia' program increased young returnees by 5%.
• Ticino risks losing 10 billion francs in GDP over 20 years.

Key facts

• Iniziativa: Incentivizing the return of talent to Ticino, submitted in March 2023.
• Perdita giovani: Around 2,500 individuals aged 20-35 leave Ticino annually.
• Programma Italia: Italy's 'Benessere Italia' offers tax incentives up to 10,000 euros.
• Impatto economico: Ticino could lose 10 billion francs in GDP over the next 20 years.
• Iniziative locali: Lugano reported a 15% decrease in young population over the past decade.
• Investimenti proposti: Creating tax incentives, promoting training programs, and improving infrastructure.
• Esempio positivo: Canton of Vaud saw a 7% increase in new residents aged 20-35 over the past five years.
• Risorse stanziate: 2 million CHF for a youth start-up support fund over the next three years.

Ticino is facing a significant demographic challenge characterized by the exodus of young people from the canton and their unwillingness to return. Claudio Isabella, a deputy from the Centro party, raised the issue through a parliamentary question to the State Council. In March 2023, a general initiative titled 'Incentivizing the return of talent to Ticino' was submitted, highlighting population aging, a negative balance in the 20-35 age group of around 2,500 individuals, and the loss of skilled workforce essential for economic growth. Despite the initiative being presented three years ago, the State Council has yet to issue a formal message or take a clear political stance.

The issue has also become central in local debates, with over 40 Ticino municipalities, including Lugano, Locarno, and Bellinzona, raising questions about the problems caused by Ticino’s lack of appeal to younger generations. For example, the Municipality of Lugano reported a 15% decrease in the young population over the past decade, underscoring the urgent need for action.

Isabella points out that passively accepting this situation would lead to the canton’s decline, while other countries, such as Italy, have invested in effective measures to encourage young people to return. Italy implemented the 'Benessere Italia' program, offering tax incentives of up to 10,000 euros for young entrepreneurs and workers relocating to regions facing demographic pressure. The program has yielded significant results, with a 5% increase in young returnees between 2019 and 2022.

The lack of response from the State Council is seen as a failure to recognize and address a long-term strategic priority. According to a study by the Politecnico di Milano, Ticino could lose around 10 billion francs in GDP over the next 20 years if the current situation persists, as the shortage of skilled workers directly impacts productivity and innovation.

To tackle this issue, an operational checklist has been proposed, including:

• Creating tax incentives for young professionals returning to Ticino,
• Promoting targeted training and professional development programs for young people,
• Collaborating with universities to facilitate internships and both fixed-term and permanent job placements.

Additionally, improving quality of life through investments in infrastructure and social services is essential to make Ticino more attractive to younger generations.

Comparing practical scenarios, the Canton of Vaud has successfully implemented policies to incentivize work and youth appeal, such as the 'Jura bernois' program, which saw a 7% increase in new residents aged 20-35 over the past five years. These initiatives demonstrate that targeted investments can have a significant positive impact on youth return rates and the economic well-being of the region.

In conclusion, Ticino must urgently address the demographic challenge to prevent further economic and social decline. It is crucial for the State Council to adopt a clear and proactive stance, learning from successful examples in other regions and implementing concrete strategies to incentivize the return of young people and strengthen the canton’s workforce.

Operational details

The current situation in Ticino, marked by a growing exodus of young people in search of better salaries and professional opportunities elsewhere, is having serious repercussions on the labor market, the social system, and the economy as a whole. Member of Parliament Claudio Isabella has highlighted the risk that ignoring this issue could accelerate demographic aging and a decline in birth rates, further worsening the already critical labor force shortage in the canton. This trend contrasts sharply with strategies adopted by other nations, which—despite less-than-ideal financial conditions—continue to invest in policies aimed at encouraging young people to return. It is a strategic priority that sees maintained, and sometimes improved, measures to support the relocation of young talent. In Ticino, the challenge lies in tailoring specific interventions to the local reality, recognizing that failing to address this phenomenon means accepting demographic and economic decline.

Concrete examples and real numbers

In 2022, municipalities like Lugano and Bellinzona recorded a 15% and 12% decrease, respectively, in the number of young residents aged 20 to 35 compared to 2017. This trend is confirmed by data from the Federal Statistical Office, which shows a 20% increase in applications for emigration from young Ticinesi to German-speaking Switzerland and abroad. Additionally, Ticino has seen a 5% reduction in births over the past five years, further intensifying demographic pressure.

Regulations and interventions

In 2021, the canton introduced the “Law on the Promotion of Young People’s Return,” offering contributions of up to CHF 10,000 to those who relocate their business activities to Ticino. However, a 2023 review revealed that only 30% of the funded measures resulted in lasting success. Detailed inspections showed that adequate infrastructure and family services—key factors in attracting and retaining young residents—are often lacking.

Comparison of practical scenarios

Unlike Ticino, the Geneva canton successfully implemented the “Retour à Geneva” program, which saw a 25% increase in the number of young people returning between 2018 and 2022, thanks to tax incentives and assistance in finding housing. This model could serve as an example for Ticino, which must adapt such strategies to its own context, considering the distinct socio-economic needs of its regions.

📊 Operational checklist

1. Demographic analysis: Continuous monitoring of emigration and birth trends. 2. Economic incentives: Review and expansion of available funds for young entrepreneurs. 3. Infrastructure: Investments in daycare centers, schools, and healthcare services. 4. Housing policies: Creation of affordable housing programs for young couples. 5. Awareness campaigns: Promoting Ticino as an ideal destination for young professionals.

⚠️ Strategic considerations

Close collaboration between cantonal and municipal authorities is essential to create an environment that not only attracts young talent but also retains it in the long term. The priority must be to develop a shared action plan involving all stakeholders, including private enterprises, to stem the outflow of young people and reverse the negative demographic trend.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

• body3: In risposta alla crescente preoccupazione, Claudio Isabella ha chiesto al Consiglio di Stato di adottare una posizione chiara e propositiva. Le domande rivolte includono: qual è la posizione del Consiglio di Stato sull'iniziativa parlamentare del 2023? Quest'ultima, mirata a promuovere il rientro dei giovani nel Ticino, ha visto sostenitori tra cui il Consiglio Comunale di Lugano, che ha segnalato un calo del 17% nella popolazione giovanile dal 2015. Sono previste misure alternative per incentivare il rientro dei giovani? Attualmente, il Cantone valuta l'introduzione di incentivi fiscali per chi reinveste nel territorio, basandosi su un modello simile a quello adottato da Bellinzona nel 2021, che ha portato a un aumento del 10% di giovani rientrati. Il Consiglio di Stato riconosce la gravità del fenomeno? Sì, come sottolineato in una nota del 2022, dove si evidenzia che il Ticino ha perso 1.200 giovani diplomati negli ultimi cinque anni. Sono già state implementate misure per affrontare la questione? Dal 2023, sono stati lanciati programmi di mentoring e stage retribuiti in collaborazione con aziende locali, con un investimento iniziale di 500.000 CHF. Sarà il Cantone pronto a supportare politiche specifiche per il rientro dei giovani? Le azioni in corso prevedono la creazione di un fondo dedicato, con risorse già stanziate per 2 milioni di CHF nei prossimi tre anni, mirate a sostenere progetti di start-up giovanili. Se sì, quali risorse saranno investite? Oltre al fondo, si prevede l'attivazione di partenariati con università per facilitare la ricerca e l'innovazione nel territorio. Infine, è importante conoscere il numero di giovani rientrati nel Cantone negli ultimi dieci anni. Dati forniti dall'Ufficio di Statistica del Cantone evidenziano che, dal 2013 al 2023, circa 800 giovani hanno scelto di rientrare, con un picco nel 2018 grazie a un'iniziativa pilota di incentivi abitativi a Mendrisio. Per approfondire le implicazioni finanziarie di queste dinamiche, si consiglia di utilizzare il nostro calcolatore stipendio.

📊 Dati Rilevanti:

• Calo del 17% nella popolazione giovanile a Lugano dal 2015
• Aumento del 10% di giovani rientrati a Bellinzona nel 2021
• Investimento di 500.000 CHF in programmi di mentoring e stage retribuiti dal 2023
• Stanzio di 2 milioni di CHF per un fondo di supporto alle start-up giovanili nei prossimi tre anni

💡 Confronti tra Scenari Pratici:

• Incentivi fiscali a Lugano vs. bonus abitativi a Mendrisio
• Partnership universitarie a Locarno vs. stage aziendali a Bellinzona

⚠️ Normative e Date Chiave:

• Iniziativa parlamentare del 2023 per promuovere il rientro dei giovani
• Nota del Consiglio di Stato del 2022 sulla perdita di giovani diplomati

Checklist Operativa:

• Valutazione di efficacia dei programmi di mentoring
• Monitoraggio dei fondi destinati alle start-up giovanili
• Aggiornamento periodico dei dati di rientro dei giovani
• Revisione delle politiche fiscali incentrate sui giovani

Source: ticinonews.ch