Italy faces short working life despite high longevity

A study by CNA reveals that while Italians are among the longest-living people in Europe, their expected working life is only 33 years. This figure is 4.5 years below the European Union average of 37.5 years, making Italy the second lowest in the EU after Romania.

Italy continues to lag behind major European economies. Expected working life reaches 40.2 years in Germany, 37.5 in France, and 36.8 in Spain, while the Netherlands leads with 44 years. Although Italy has seen a slight increase from 30.7 years in 2015, its gap relative to the EU average has actually widened from 4.2 to 4.5 years.

The data highlights a significant gender disparity. The expected working life for women in Italy is just 28.4 years, compared to the EU average of 35.4 years. This 8.9-year gap is the highest in the Union, coinciding with a female employment rate of 58%, which is nearly 13 points below the EU average.

Broader demographic trends show that increasing longevity and declining birth rates are creating societies where a shrinking young workforce must support a growing number of retirees. This shift poses challenges for maintaining GDP growth and fostering the scientific and technological innovation typically driven by younger generations.