– Young Italians flock to become shepherds (Telegraph, May 3, 2012):
Pay is poor and the hours are long, but there is job security, fresh air and as much pecorino cheese as you can eat.
As Italy’s unemployment rate topped 10pc this week, it emerged that young people are flocking to become shepherds.
Traditionally the preserve of older men, the profession has recently attracted 3,000 young Italians, according to agricultural body Coldiretti.
They are choosing a simple life in the great outdoors because their aspirations to become doctors, lawyers or engineers have been thwarted by Italy’s negligible economic growth, which has been compounded by grinding austerity measures.
Davide Bortoluzzi, 25, has a degree in surveying from a technical institute but, unable to find a job, now keeps a watchful eye on a flock of 400 sheep in the Dolomites of northern Italy.
“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.”
The sheep apparently were not very happy.