Young People Do Not Return: What Are Ticino Municipalities Doing? (cross-border guide)

Di Valerie Linc · Published on

Every year in Ticino, around 800 talented individuals leave, while municipalities attempt to respond with new strategies. A detailed analysis of measures and opportunities.

Contesto

TL;DR - 800 young people leave Ticino yearly, mainly to Lombardy and Italy. - Tax incentives up to 15,000 CHF/year for local employment in some municipalities. - 2023 agreement with Italy offers 50% tax deduction for returning youth. - Lugano offers 50% income tax reduction for young adults until 2026. ## Key facts - Young people leaving: Approximately 800 young individuals each year. - Main destinations: Lombardy and neighboring Italian regions. - Tax incentives: Up to 15,000 Swiss francs per year for young people who find work locally. - Mendrisio's Local Development Plan: Allocated 2 million francs in 2023 for youth employment projects. - Cantonal law 2022: Offers tax incentives up to 50,000 francs for companies hiring under-30s. - 2023 agreement with Italy: 50% of cantonal taxes as incentives for returning youth, up to 20,000 francs annually for three years. - Lugano tax reduction: 50% reduction in canton income tax for young adults aged 20 to 35 until 2026. - Bellinzona internship project: 500,000 CHF budget in 2024, aiming to place 60% of participants in local companies within six months. The phenomenon of young people leaving Ticino has now become a structural and persistent element, with profound impacts on the socio-economic fabric of the Canton. According to recent data, approximately 800 young individuals each year choose not to return or to move elsewhere, mainly to Lombardy and neighboring Italian regions. This trend is driven by factors such as more competitive job opportunities, higher-level educational offerings, and more appealing living conditions, which often surpass those available in the Canton. The loss of human capital poses a real risk, as it threatens to undermine the economic and social development of the territory, creating a vicious cycle o...

Dettagli operativi

Are you an experienced financial journalist specializing in cross-border work in Ticino? Young People Do Not Return: What Are Ticino Municipalities Doing? To address the ongoing loss of human capital and combat the exodus of qualified youth to other regions or abroad, Ticino municipalities are implementing targeted initiatives. The most concrete and structured approach involves introducing tax incentives, which are already yielding tangible results in some parts of the canton. Among these, Lugano Municipality adopted in 2023 a 50% reduction in canton income tax for young adults aged 20 to 35 who decide to return or move into the area. Valid until 2026, this measure aims to attract talent who studied or worked elsewhere, encouraging them to settle in Ticino. In particular, it is estimated that about 150 young people benefited from this incentive in 2023, leading to a 10% increase in new resident registrations in this age group compared to the previous year. Current regulations require beneficiaries to submit a formal application accompanied by documents proving their work or education outside Ticino, such as diplomas, employment contracts, or internship attestations. The measure is valid until December 31, 2026, with possible extensions depending on results. > > “Our goal is to reduce the gap between young people studying and working outside Ticino and their opportunity to come back,” says the director of youth policies of Lugano. In addition to fiscal incentives, municipalities are enhancing training and employment programs in collaboration with universities like SUPSI and local companies. These include scholarships, internships, and traineeships designed to facilitate the return and stable settlement of young people. For example, Bellinzona launched in 2024 a pai...

Punti chiave

Young People Do Not Return: What Are Ticino Municipalities Doing? For many young individuals eager to return to Ticino, daily life can be complex and often unsatisfying, pushing them to seek alternatives or remain abroad. Nevertheless, some Ticino municipalities like Lugano, Bellinzona, and Mendrisio are implementing targeted strategies to encourage their return and maximize the potential of this demographic. In particular, fiscal incentives and residence benefits are becoming even more strategic tools. For example, Lugano’s 'Return Ticino' plan offers a tax bonus of 10,000 CHF for young people aged 20 to 35 who decide to move and settle in the area, benefiting from temporary reductions in cantonal and municipal taxes. Valid until 2026, these incentives target those bringing new activity or entering the local job market. > “Our aim is to reverse the trend of youth emigration by creating an attractive and sustainable environment,” states Lugano’s mayor, Marco Borradori. To better understand the concrete opportunities, it’s useful to compare practical scenarios: a young person earning 80,000 CHF annually who moves to Lugano could save about 3,000 CHF per year in taxes thanks to new incentives, compared to residing in Italy or other Swiss regions. However, it’s important to consider the higher living costs in Ticino — on average about 10% more than Milan, for instance. A concrete example: an 80 sqm apartment in Mendrisio costs around 1,200 CHF per month, versus 1,000 in Milan. To facilitate the return, local authorities recommend an operational checklist: - 💡 consult online tax and cost-of-living calculators available on municipal and cantonal websites, - 💡 check job offers on platforms like Jobs.ch, Indeed.ch, and local Chamber of Commerce portals, - 💡 inquire at...

Punti chiave

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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main causes of young people fleeing Ticino?
The main causes of the flight of young people from Ticino are the more competitive job opportunities, the higher level of training and the more attractive living conditions compared to those offered in the Canton. These factors push young people to move mainly to Lombardy and the neighboring Italian regions.
What are the tax incentives offered by the Municipality of Lugano for young people?
The Municipality of Lugano offers a reduced cantonal income tax rate of 50% for young people between 20 and 35 years old who return or move to the territory, until 2026, with the possibility of extension.
How do I apply for the reduced tax rate for young people in Lugano?
To apply for the reduced rate of 50% in Lugano, the young person must access the cantonal portal, fill out the 'Request for tax relief' form by 31 December 2026, attach an employment contract or internship certificate carried out outside Ticino and a copy of the diploma. The application is evaluated within 30 days; If approved, the reduction applies to taxable income for the next three tax years.
What is the budget and internship opportunities for engineering graduates in Bellinzona?
The paid internship project launched by Bellinzona in 2024 has a budget of CHF 500,000. It is intended for engineering and technology graduates and provides for six-month contracts with a monthly salary equal to 80% of the average cantonal salary. The goal is to place at least 60% of the participants in local companies within six months of the end of the internship.
What tax incentives does a Ticino company receive when it hires an employee under 30?
Ticino companies that hire employees under 30 benefit from a tax credit of up to 50,000 francs per year, according to the 2022 cantonal law. The government has allocated a total of 10 million francs for this program, with an automatic refund within 90 days of presenting the payslip. The credit can be combined with deductions for young workers.

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