Italy's working-life expectancy is just 33 years, the second lowest in the EU, think tank CNA said Monday.
    Italy is one of the European countries where people live longest, but also one of those with the fewest years spent in the labour market.
    In 2025, the expected working life expectancy stood at 33 years, the second lowest figure in the European Union after Romania and a full four and a half years less than the EU average of 37.5 years.
    The CNA notes this, explaining that the improvement compared to 2024 is minimal: just over two months, compared to a three-month increase recorded in the European average.

Last year, the Italian indicator was 32.8 years, while the EU average was 37.2.
    The gap with the major European economies remains considerable, explains the CNA.
    The expected working lifespan reaches 40.2 years in Germany, 37.5 in France, and 36.8 in Spain.
    In the Netherlands, it reaches a staggering 44 years—eleven more than in Italy.
    The most critical figure concerns women, notes the CNA: in Italy, the expected working lifespan is just 28.4 years, compared to 35.4 years on average in Europe.

The gap between men and women is 8.9 years, the highest in the EU.
    This result is consistent with a female employment rate of 58%, almost thirteen points below the EU average, and the widest gender employment gap among Member States.
    The indicator does not measure retirement age or the number of years actually worked by those in continuous employment, explains the CNA: it estimates the years a 15-year-old can expect to spend in the labor force, either employed or unemployed, based on current demographic conditions and participation levels.
    The Italian result - observes the CNA - therefore reflects above all the late entry of young people, discontinuous careers and low female participation.
   

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