Italy

Abstract In 2011 the legal retirement age in Italy was raised from 65 years for
men and 60 years for women to 67 years for both by the year 2019. This reform
remains controversial. Extending the legal retirement age has caused an increase in
employment rates for the 55–64 age group. However, unemployed workers in this
age group face difficulties in finding a job and in re-entering the labour market.
The demanding family responsibilities of Italian women and the persistence of the
gender wage gap result in lower levels of retirement pensions. Moreover, increasing
the retirement age without improving childcare services and addressing work-life
balance policies negatively affects the working careers of young women. Extended
working life policies should be matched with gender sensitive activation policies to
ensure equal access to work and age management policies to achieve better working
conditions for older workers.