Over half a million young people in Italy are involved in apprenticeship schemes each year. An apprenticeship aims to give people between the ages of 16 and 26 a combination of on-the-job training and further education, with around four hours per day spent on practical training and three-and-a-half in theoretical training at an apprentice training centre.
Apprenticeships last from 18 months to four years and cover a huge range of occupations, including waitressing, cooking, plumbing, carpentry, hairdressing, car repairs and agricultural work. Employers pay apprentices 80 per cent of the salary of a fully qualified worker, which increases with age and experience. They also pay for schooling and sometimes the cost of travel to and from school. Apprentices are entitled to the same holiday periods as fully qualified staff.
Another kind of vocational training is a combined training and work contract ( contratto di formazione lavorativa/CFL) for those aged between 16 and 23, whereby employers provide a training programme for a specific professional qualification as part of a fixed-period employment contract.
Contracts last one or two years and include an initial trial period. The state pays insurance contributions but employment isn’t guaranteed at the end of the training period.
Careers advice for young people is available via the nationwide network of Informagiovani offices.
This article is an extract from Living and Working in Italy. Click here to get a copy now.