Formazione professionale

Mario Romani was economic historian, a key intellectual figure of the Italian trade union movement from the mid-20th century to the 1970s, and member of the National Council for Economics and Labour since its foundation. In a volume critically reassessing the lasting relevance of this scholar’s core concepts, the paper examines the ideas and commitment on vocational training. During Italy’s “economic miracle,” Romani highlighted the lack of a solid cultural foundation among workers, framing training as essential not only for technical skills but also for human and civic development. Following the 1948 Constitution, vocational policies expanded through courses, training sites, and specialized centers, supported by state institutions as well as public, trade union, and religious organizations. Despite this growth, many young people entered the labor market unqualified, often limited to apprenticeships that favored employment over education. Mario Romani considered worker qualification and requalification as a great national issue” comparable in urgency to unemployment and the North-South divide, and crucial to fostering economic progress, social justice, and cultural emancipation.