Italy women face shorter working lives than men, Eurostat data show

Eurostat data reveal that the average life expectancy in Italy has reached a record 84.18 years, but the expected duration of participation in the labour market remains markedly lower for women than for men. Across the European Union, the projected working life for a 15‑year‑old is 37.5 years – 39.5 years for men and 35.4 years for women. In Italy, women are expected to work only 28.4 years compared with 37.3 years for men, the widest gender gap in the EU and nine years shorter than their male counterparts. The next lowest figures are in Romania (29.1 years for women) and Greece (31.8 years).

The disparity is attributed largely to motherhood and the lack of comprehensive family‑friendly policies, such as mandatory parental leave, which force many new mothers to reduce or leave employment. The figures describe observed participation patterns, not statutory retirement ages, and highlight persistent barriers that keep Italian women out of the labour market for longer periods.