Recent data from INPS presented in Rome highlights a significant gender disparity in the labor market, with women’s average salaries being 20% lower than those of men. In 2023, the female employment rate stood at 52.5%, compared to 70.4% for men, revealing a gap of 17.9 percentage points. Only 42.3% of new hires are women, and the majority of them work under precarious contracts: only 18% have permanent contracts. Furthermore, female workers predominantly occupy involuntary part-time positions.
The report also emphasizes that despite women outpacing men in terms of education (52.6% among high school graduates and 59.9% among university graduates), this does not translate into equal opportunities in leadership roles. Reports of gender-based violence have increased, and the availability of childcare services remains insufficient. Pension disparities are still pronounced: women receive pensions that are 25.5% lower than men’s for retirement/early retirement pensions and up to 44.1% lower for old-age pensions. These figures highlight a persistent condition of disadvantage for women in our country.
