In L’Aquila, research findings debunk a common misconception: young people in the inland areas of Abruzzo, Marche, and Umbria are deeply rooted in their communities, want to stay, and would be willing to invest there. But without skilled jobs, training, and services, nearly two out of three have considered leaving at least once. The Tecnè survey for the Magna Carta Foundation, presented on June 12 as part of the program for L’Aquila, Italian Capital of Culture 2026, featured Andrea Abodi, Guido Castelli, Pierluigi Biondi, and Gaetano Quagliariello.

Staying is not resignation—it’s a choice. That is the message that emerges strongly from the survey “Young People in Vulnerable Areas”, conducted by Tecnè on behalf of the Magna Carta Foundation as part of the project Connections for Growth in the Apennines (FRES 2024 Call for Proposals), and presented today, June 12, 2026, in L’Aquila.

The initiative is part of the series “Vulnerable Areas, A Possible Future” — supported by the City of L’Aquila and organized by the Magna Carta Foundation as part of the program forL’Aquila, Italian Capital of Culture 2026 — and, for the first time, uses systematic data to document the relationship between younger generations and the inland regions of the Central Apennines.

The data was presented by the president of Tecnè, Carlo Buttaroni, and were preceded by opening remarks from the president of the Magna Carta Foundation, Gaetano Quagliariello. Speakers at the meeting included the Special Commissioner for Reconstruction following the 2016 Earthquake, Guido Castelli, and the mayor of L’Aquila, Pierluigi Biondi. The closing remarks were delivered by the Minister of Sports and Youth, Andrea Abodi. The session was moderated by Annamaria Parente, Director of the FMC Observatory on the Demographic Crisis.

The Data: Strong Ties, Few Opportunities

The picture that emerges from the study is more complex—and more encouraging—than the debate on depopulation often suggests.

The roots are real: the 79% of young people living in the inland areas of Abruzzo, Marche, and Umbria say they feel “very” or “fairly” attached to their region. 64% rate the quality of life in the municipality where they live positively. 55% consider inland areas a strategic resource for Italy.

But the risk of people leaving is very real: despite this deep-rooted presence, the 65% of respondents have thought at least once about moving elsewhere. The percentage drops to 48% among those aged 30–34—the segment that, having already made more defined life choices, shows a stronger attachment to the area.

The key issue is employment: for 74% of young people, the main limitation of inland areas is the lack of job prospects and opportunities for professional growth. The88% cite a stable, well-paying job as their top priority; 49% cite skilled employment consistent with their educational background. Tax incentives and remote work, on the other hand, prove to be decisive factors for only a small minority.

Six out of ten would invest in their own municipality

Perhaps the most significant figure for regional policies is the one regarding the propensity to invest: 6 out of 10 young people say they would start a business or venture in the municipality where they live. The percentage rises to 66% among 30- to 34-year-olds. This is not a resigned generation, then, but one that is waiting for the basic conditions to turn a sense of belonging into a life plan.

The 2016 Earthquake Crater: Deeper Roots, Greater Trust

A specific chapter focuses on young people living in the area of the 2016 Earthquake Crater, where investments in reconstruction have had a measurable effect on the confidence of the younger generations. In this area, 67% of those under 35 study or work in their municipality of residence— seven percentage points higher than the sample average. The majority (42%) believe that in ten years they will be living in a situation similar to their current one; another 42% expect an improvement, which is also above average. The figure for artificial intelligence and digital technology reaches82% — confirming the impact of investments in digital innovation made in these areas.

Digital Technology, Tourism, and Education: The Drivers of Development

The survey reveals a high level of confidence in new technologies as a tool for regional development:

• The80% believe that AI and digital technology can foster economic growth and promote tourism in the region
• The 76% consider e-learning a useful tool for studying without leaving their hometown (78% among those under 25)
• The 65% would use digital platforms for professional training
• The 65% indicates cultural tourism as the most suitable development model for the Apennines; 64% prefer experiential tourism, with peaks of85% in the most remote municipalities

A related statistic reinforces this picture: the University of L’Aquila reported a +25.6% between the 2018–2019 and 2024–2025 academic years, confirming the city’s ability to attract and retain human capital in the Apennine region.

The Voices of the Protagonists

“Young people continue to feel a strong connection to their local area, and many of them would be willing to invest in the town where they live by opening a business or launching an entrepreneurial project. Yet when opportunities for education, work, and professional growth diminish, the likelihood of moving elsewhere increases,”, said Gaetano Quagliariello, president of the Magna Carta Foundation. “To reverse this trend, we need to invest in knowledge and innovation: universities, research centers, technology transfer, and collaborative networks between educational institutions and businesses.”

“Research on the younger generations in the Central Apennines confirms that young people have not stopped believing in their home regions. Their bond with their communities of origin remains strong, but turning that bond into a way of life requires skilled jobs, training, services, mobility, connectivity, and business opportunities”, said Guido Castelli, Special Commissioner for the 2016 Earthquake. “Our goal is for an investment in a small town to have effects that go beyond the individual project: a skilled job keeps a family in the area; that family helps keep a school open; the school supports local services; and those services keep the community alive.”

“Inland areas cannot be considered on the periphery of development. Young people stay where they find opportunities, services, transportation, and prospects for the future,”, emphasized the mayor of L’Aquila, Pierluigi Biondi. “L’Aquila is demonstrating that it is possible to transform a state of vulnerability into a driver of growth by putting culture, research, education, and innovation at the service of the entire region.”