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.