Italy Faces STEM Worker Shortage Despite Increased Enrollment, Experts Discuss Solutions
Italy’s STEM Skills Gap Widens Despite Growing Student Interest
By Sebastian Rothwell, World Editor
Rome – Italy faces a growing deficit in skilled professionals with tertiary education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), according to projections from the Excelsior information system (2024). The nation is expected to see an annual demand for 72,000 to 82,000 STEM-qualified workers between 2024 and 2028. However, a significant shortfall is anticipated, with an estimated 8,000 to 17,000 positions remaining unfilled each year.
This stark gap persists despite a notable increase in student enrollment in scientific fields, which have surged by 73.4% from 2000 to 2024, according to Censis data. The challenge lies not just in attracting students but in ensuring equitable access to STEM education and fostering a broader understanding of its importance.
Beyond Numbers: STEM Education as a Social Equalizer
The discussion around making STEM skills accessible to a wider population was a central theme at the “Non solo numeri, cosa raccontano i dati” (Not just numbers, what the data tells us) talk, held as part of Cicap Fest 2025 in Padua. Experts emphasized that STEM education is not only crucial for national competitiveness but also serves as a powerful engine for social mobility.
“Economic and social inequalities weigh heavily on educational choices, and university today is no longer a true social elevator. Children of graduates have a greater chance of graduating themselves,” stated Lorenzo Montali, president of Cicap and associate professor of social psychology at the University of Milan-Bicocca. Citing Istat 2025 data for the period 1992-2022, he noted that even accounting for individual characteristics and location, having at least one parent with a degree increases a child’s probability of graduating by 20 percentage points compared to those with non-diploma parents.
European Push for STEM Competencies
Strengthening STEM competencies is a key objective for the European Commission. A strategic plan for STEM education was launched in March, building on recommendations from Mario Draghi’s report on competitiveness. While countries like China and India boast over 30% of their graduates from STEM fields, Europe’s percentage hovers around 25% (OECD/European Commission, 2023 data).
Key STEM Statistics:
- Italy’s projected annual STEM workforce demand (2024-2028): 72,000 – 82,000
- Anticipated annual STEM skills gap in Italy: 8,000 – 17,000
- Increase in Italian scientific field enrollments (2000-2024): +73.4% (Censis)
- European STEM graduates percentage: approx. 25% (OECD/EC, 2023)
- Italian graduates from scientific/technological paths: 23.4% (Eurostat, 2024)
Fostering ‘Scientific Citizenship’
The importance of STEM knowledge extends beyond career paths. Journalist, writer, and broadcaster Silvia Bencivelli highlighted the concept of “scientific citizenship,” emphasizing that everyone needs a foundational level of scientific literacy to navigate the modern world.
“Knowledge of STEM should concern everyone, even those who will never become engineers or biologists,” Bencivelli observed. “Scientific citizenship means that every person should have a minimum level of scientific culture to orient themselves in the world.” Bridging the gap requires shifting societal perceptions and moving beyond the stereotype of the isolated scientist.
Donata Columbro, a journalist, science communicator, and writer, points out that in Italy, only 23.4% of university graduates come from scientific or technological fields, according to Eurostat 2024 data. “We tend to consider scientific disciplines as something ‘technical,’ reserved for a few. Instead, they are fundamental in every context. Data and statistics now permeate all areas of society.”
Amgen Foundation’s Commitment to STEM
Promoting scientific education is seen as vital for personal and social growth, sparking curiosity, and strengthening the bond between science and the community. This principle underpins the commitment of the Amgen Foundation, which offers university students opportunities for research experiences worldwide through its life sciences training programs.
Globally, the Amgen Foundation reached 25 million students and educators in 2024. Its Amgen Scholars program, running since 2007, has involved over 5,800 university students from more than 1,000 institutions. These students gain intensive summer research experience under leading professors, participating in seminars and symposia. European participants have opportunities at renowned institutions like ETH Zurich, Institut Pasteur, Karolinska Institutet, LMU Munich, and the University of Cambridge, with alumni now working in science across over 40 countries.
In parallel, the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) program has been instrumental in bringing biotechnology education to secondary schools. Since its inception, ABE has reached approximately 1 million students as of last year, with the goal of engaging young minds in STEM disciplines from an early age.
“Amgen intends to support not only innovation through cutting-edge therapies, clinical studies, and research in Italy, but with the Amgen Foundation, we are committed to promoting the country’s human capital, an aspect we consider equally fundamental,” stated Alessandra Brescianini, Medical Director of Amgen Italy. “We implement projects aimed at university students already studying in the scientific field, offering them the opportunity to attend centers of excellence to refine their skills and join prestigious international networks. In this way, we aim to incentivize the scientific approach so that young people learn not only elements they can use in their future careers but also a method that allows them to become passionate about science and develop critical thinking, which is increasingly essential for understanding the world.”