THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN WORKING OUT OF POVERTY

The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of professional training in job placement and to verify the effect of ‘accompaniment’ and ‘orientation’ processes implemented by a training institution (Enaip) on the ex-post outcomes of the training activities. Specific attention was paid to young students who live in conditions of economic or social poverty. The research highlights that the quality of accompaniment and orientation is decisive in the case of professional training aimed at young people leaving secondary school. In particular, Enaip’s personalized approach targeted at disadvantaged categories to positive outcomes not only because it satisfies demand from companies for manual and operational skills and profiles, but also because it does not discriminate between young people from backgrounds of economic disadvantage and other types of hardship. In this way, training courses act as a ‘rebalancer’ capable of empowering young people.