Italian graduates working abroad earn about 60% more than their colleagues who remain in Italy. This data comes from... AlmaLaurea 2026 report on graduation and employment, compiled from a sample of over 335.000 graduates from 2025 and nearly 700.000 professionals analyzed regarding their entry into the job market.
The most significant difference appears between graduates of second-level programs (two-year master's degrees and single-cycle courses) with Italian citizenship and a high school diploma obtained in Italy. Five years after completing their studies, those working abroad report an average net income of €2.941 per month, compared to €1.840 for those working in Italy, a 59,9% advantage.
The gap becomes apparent in the first job. One year after graduation, the average net monthly salary abroad is €2.290, 57,6% higher than the €1.452 earned by those who remain in the Italian market.
The pattern repeats itself among graduates with foreign citizenship and degrees obtained outside of Italy. In this group, those who work abroad receive an average of €2.595 five years after graduation, while those who remain in Italy earn €1.834, an amount almost identical to that of Italians.
Employment is booming, wages are lagging.
The report describes a two-sided scenario. Employment among graduates is growing: one year after graduation, 81,2% of first-level graduates who are not continuing their studies are employed, and 80,8% of second-level graduates. In five years, these rates rise to 91,7% and 94,4%, the highest figure in about fifteen years for the second group.
RemunerationHowever, salaries remain low, and some graduates consider their own salaries inadequate for the job they perform. According to the study, a degree increases job prospects, but it is no longer enough to retain qualified young people in the country.
Who leaves and where are they going?
Among those employed with an Italian high school diploma, 3,7% work abroad one year after graduation and 4,5% after five years. The highest proportions are in computer science and information technology (13%), the scientific group (10,3%), and industrial and information engineering (9%).
Mobility is primarily European: 91,2% of those working abroad They work in Europe....mainly in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Among the reasons for leaving, 29,8% cite the lack of suitable opportunities in Italy, 29,1% mention an attractive offer from a foreign company, and 11,5% cite the scarcity of research funding in the country.
Unlikely return
AlmaLaurea warns that those who leave tend to have brighter academic performance and faster professional integration. These professionals also report greater job satisfaction, especially in terms of earning potential, career advancement, autonomy, flexibility, and international contacts.
Returning is not in the plans for most. Among the Italians employed abroadOf those surveyed, 37% consider it very unlikely that they will return to Italy in the next five years, and 31,5% consider a return unlikely. Only 15,4% rate it as very likely.
The consortium recommends caution when comparing salaries, which are influenced by the cost of living and the uneven distribution of part-time work. This situation is part of a broader structural lag: Italy remains among the European countries with the fewest young graduates, with 31,1% in the 25-34 age group, far from the European target of 45% by 2030. (With information from Today.it)
