Young Italians are flocking to shepherding: Italian agricultural body Coldiretti reported that 3,000 have entered the profession since the onset of the recession.
Unemployment topped 10 per cent in Italy this week: and it seems the “lost generation” are finding themselves in jobs that are normally the preserve of much older people.
The Telegraph interviewed Davide Bortoluzzi, who at 25 is a graduate of a technical institute, and now a shepherd in northern Italy. Watching sheep was not his first choice, but he told the Telegraph he has grown used to the idea:
“I’m happy with the choice I’ve made,” he said. “I started out by following other shepherds and learning the ropes from them. It was not easy. But, day by day, I made progress without becoming too discouraged, sometimes working in pouring rain and at other times under a burning sun.”
A number of other professions are opening their doors to new recruits. Top of the list, compiled by Career Builder, are HR managers (plenty to be done right now in sorting out career problems), construction workers (the Olympics is helping), PR professionals (again, lots of work available on that front), and Midwifery (people keep being born, apparently).