ROME (ITALPRESS) – Only one in three has inherited the business, but nearly 60 percent are the children of entrepreneurs. Thirty-five percent have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, but for 45 percent, school/university education counts for little or nothing in entrepreneurial activity; more than 86 percent have not used public incentives to start their business. These are some of the results of the survey of entrepreneurs under 40 promoted by CNA Young Entrepreneurs. A snapshot that highlights the negative effects of the demographic winter (between 2010 and 2023 the population of under-35s dropped by about 3 million individuals) but confirms the widespread desire of young people to do business.41.2% of the sample surveyed say they are first-generation entrepreneurs and 61.3% have started the business themselves confirming that the vast majority have made entrepreneurship a professional life choice with the goal of developing an original project. In contrast, 32% run businesses inherited/donated by family members and aim to renew the commitment of previous generations.Despite their young age, entrepreneurs under 40 in the CNA sample in many cases have been able to structure their business. In fact, 15.5 percent have one employee and 46.5 percent of the total indicate that they have between 2 and 10.These figures seem to disprove the commonplace that young businesses in Italy are mostly made up of young freelance professionals.Young entrepreneurs pay attention to training. Approximately 35 percent of respondents under 40 have a degree (master’s or three-year), a much higher share than those found for older age groups (in the 41-50 age group graduates are 24.4 percent of the total, in the over-50 age group they are just 10.4 percent), which clarifies how much in the most recent years, characterized by persistent uncertainty and rapidly changing technologies, doing business is an activity that does not allow any room for improvisation but, on the contrary, requires an adequate cultural background. However, 45 percent of those under 40 believe that schooling counts for little or nothing in entrepreneurial activity. For young entrepreneurs, however, experience gained in the field is also crucial. In fact, 57 percent of them say they have acquired the necessary skills for business activity through their previous work at other companies.73 percent of young entrepreneurs started the business thanks to an initial asset represented by their own means (46.9 percent) or family resources (26.9 percent). Only 17.3% started the business project relying primarily on bank credit. These data are an indication of a known criticality. In Italy, in fact, the majority of young people who cannot count on their own or family resources have had to abandon the idea of setting up their own business since bank credit is provided in dropper drops and in a very selective manner.Among the entrepreneurs who participated in the survey, only 5.6 percent admit to having chosen the entrepreneurial route due to lack of alternative opportunities. For 42 percent, on the other hand, the entrepreneurial choice stems from the desire to realize their aspirations (31.7 percent) or to improve their economic condition (10.2 percent).The survey shows that since 2004, when the tax-neutral regime for business transfers ceased, the number of existing businesses purchased on the market has halved. To date, only 6.6 percent of the under-40s surveyed said they had purchased the business on the market. Finally, 86.2 percent of the under-40s have not used public incentives to start a business.-photo CNA press office-(ITALPRESS).
