Seventy years after the recruitment agreement between Italy and Germany, Germany remains the top destination for Italian emigrants, especially among the well-educated youth seeking better career prospects. Young Italians, like Livia Mazzetti, a 26-year-old engineer, pursue jobs in Germany due to better salaries and prospects, contrasting with low-paid internships in Italy. This migration mirrors the historical ‘guest worker’ movement of the 1950s and 1960s, when Germany actively recruited Italian workers during its economic boom. Many former guest workers settled permanently in Germany, though some returned to Italy. The experiences of older workers like Agostino de Stefano, who faced language barriers and low initial wages but eventually settled in Germany, parallel the motivations of today’s emigrants. However, unlike past guest workers, modern migrants often have family support and view their move as potentially temporary, with options to return or relocate elsewhere. Despite the appeal of opportunities abroad, some young Italians hope for improved job prospects in Italy so they can choose freely whether to stay or leave.

Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/italien-auswanderung-deutschland-100.html