Palermo 4.0 aims to provide students with the skills needed in the labour market and connect them with quality jobs. Youth unemployment is skyrocketing in Palermo. In addition, local firms struggle to find the skills needed, with skills gaps being a more and more pressing issue.

The Palermo Hub has partnered with local industry associations, as well as the regional school office, to implement the project. As a first step, the Hub has undertaken a survey of more than 30 firms to understand what skills they need but struggle to find. Based on the results, the Hub has organised 4 webinars with more than 60 students from technical high schools in Palermo aiming to build those skills and offer internship opportunities. The Hub is currently working with project partners to ensure that several students get offered an internship, to maximise impact of the project.