ROME – Edison, one of Italy’s leading energy companies, is launching a brand-new scheme for their freshly graduated employees. ‘A home for young people’ (‘Una casa per i giovani’) will guarantee graduates a rental property close to their place of work at a significantly subsidised price, allowing them to take on their new job without the stress of finding and paying for extortionate accommodation.

 Recent statistics show that 67.4% of 18-34 year olds in Italy still live at home. Graduates are increasingly turning down employment offers because they do not want to contend with the extortionate rental and living costs of urban areas. These economic concerns are also the main reason why many young Italians move abroad after graduation – the sort of ‘brain drain’ that companies like Edison are trying to combat.

 ‘A home for young people’ wants to reduce the influence of financial concerns in young people’s decision to accept a job in a new location. A third party will take care of managing the rental contract and finding the property, which is guaranteed to be within a half hour commute from their place of work. The monthly rent is subsidised by Edison so that it is significantly lower than average market prices, and is guaranteed not to exceed a third of the employee’s salary. Prices are neutralised across different Italian cities, so that this too does not deter the young people’s decision to accept their graduate offer.

 ‘A home for young people’ is part of Edison's mission to foster a company that values employee wellbeing, work-life balance and financial health. The company is determined to keep Italy’s young talent in the country by reducing the economic concerns and cost of living struggles that heavily influence the career choices of modern day’s youth population.  With 300 new employees every year, the vast majority of whom being fresh out of university, a significant quantity of young people are set to be aided by Edison's new and exciting scheme. 

 dabj