Abstract

The article analyses the development of apprenticeships in Italy by looking into the national legal framework and the data on the evolution of employment and apprentices’ participation in public-funded training activities over the period 2008-2021. For several decades, Italy has been engaged in relaunching apprenticeships, especially the so-called “first-level typologyµ, which is more similar to the European dual systems, with the aim of supporting the school/trainingto-work transition, developing the skills in demand by businesses, and increasing young people’s qualification levels. The data analysed, albeit showing some positive signs, highlight persistent difficulties in promoting apprenticeships, especially the typologies with a higher training value, and thus allow us to reflect on the measures needed to increase the quality of this tool, as well as its attractiveness for young people and businesses.