Romagna faces caregiver shortage as workforce ages sharply

An analysis by the CISL Romagna observatory using INPS data shows a steep decline in the number of paid home caregivers (badanti) in the provinces of Ravenna, Rimini and Forlì‑Cesena. Between 2016 and 2025 the total workforce fell from 17,147 to 14,690, a loss of 2,457 workers (‑14.3%). The drop was most pronounced in Ravenna (‑19%) followed by Forlì‑Cesena (‑14.9%) and Rimini (‑8.3%).

At the same time the age profile of caregivers has shifted dramatically. In 2016 almost half of the workforce was under 50; by 2025 that share fell by 46.3% to just 4,110, while workers over 60 grew by about 70%, reaching 5,578 across Romagna. In Rimini, more than four out of ten caregivers are now over 60, overtaking the 51‑60 age bracket for the first time.

Projections suggest the trend will continue: by 2036 the total number of caregivers could drop to roughly 11,000, with under‑50 workers reduced to about 1,200 and the proportion of staff over 60 exceeding 55‑67% depending on the province. The caregiver‑to‑elderly‑over‑80 ratio has already worsened from 1 : 5.5 in 2016 to 1 : 7.1 in Ravenna and is expected to approach 1 : 10.5 by 2035. CISL Romagna secretary‑general Francesco Marinelli warned that the shrinking, aging workforce threatens the ability of communities to meet the growing care needs of an aging population and called for policies to strengthen home‑care provision.