Within a few months of graduating, more than three out of four students have already entered the job market. Demand is growing for specialist skills in the sectors that symbolise Made in Italy.

The skills related to Italian excellence continue to be highly valued in the employment market. This is confirmed by the results of a survey conducted by an independent group of researchers from the University of Milan-Bicocca and the Nestore Association, on the employment outcomes of graduates from Plena Education schools, a leading educational hub for advanced training in the creative, managerial and designing disciplines of Made in Italy, backed by the Kyip Capital fund. The survey was conducted through a questionnaire administered to a sample of 1,765 graduates from the schools of the Plena Education Group, relating to the academic years 2018–19, 2020–21 and 2022–23.

The Group – which brings together seven higher education institutions located across several Italian cities – recorded an overall employment rate of 82% among the graduates involved in the survey. This figure is particularly significant as it also includes students who graduated more recently and are still in the early stages of entering the labour market. Among graduates who obtained their qualification three years ago, the employment rate rises to 96.8%, demonstrating the long-term strength and effectiveness of the educational pathway. 

The ability of the Group’s schools to prepare professionals who are immediately operational is also reflected in the speed of labour market entry: almost 42% of graduates began working during their studies or immediately after completing their qualification. Within the first six months after graduation, the overall percentage rises to more than 75%. Another notable aspect is the strong alignment between education and employment. Almost one in two employed graduates (47.5%) stated that their current role is “highly consistent” with the skills acquired during their studies, highlighting an increasingly close alignment between training programmes and the practical needs of businesses.

Graduates from the Group’s schools predominantly find employment in the private sector (72.3%), with a significant proportion securing permanent contracts (36.3%). The entrepreneurial component is also noteworthy: 23% of employed graduates work independently as freelancers or entrepreneurs.

A total of 82.4% of employed graduates work in Italy, with Lazio, Veneto and Lombardy emerging as the main employment hubs. The remaining 17.6% found employment abroad, demonstrating the international relevance and transferability of the skills acquired.

“These results confirm how strategic it is today to invest in highly specialised education that is closely connected to the needs of businesses. The Made in Italy sectors represent a key driver of employment and growth, but they increasingly require highly specialised, project-oriented and immediately applicable skills”, said Alessandro Montel, CEO of Plena Education. “At Plena Education, we work every day to create educational pathways capable of supporting young people towards qualified professional careers aligned with their aspirations, while at the same time enhancing Italy’s creative and manufacturing heritage.”

“These results confirm how strategic it is today to invest in highly specialised education that is closely connected to the needs of businesses. The Made in Italy sectors represent a key driver of employment and growth, but they increasingly require highly specialised, project-oriented and immediately applicable skills”, said Alessandro Montel, CEO of Plena Education. “At Plena Education, we work every day to create educational pathways capable of supporting young people towards qualified professional careers aligned with their aspirations, while at the same time enhancing Italy’s creative and manufacturing heritage.”