NAME : ANGELICA KRYSTLE DONATI GIG : HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY : DONATI S . P . A .
Inclusivity in the workplace is necessary if businesses want to adapt and survive . While progress has been made to achieve gender parity and train young people in the workforce , many countries around the world are still struggling to achieve targets .
Italy has witnessed an increase in the number of women in senior management roles over the last few years , but it still lags behind other major European countries and , similarly , in regard to youth employment . According to Eurostat , Italy has the lowest female employment rate out of any EU country at 57 %. In addition , Italy has the highest NEET rate in Europe , with a shocking 23.3 % of young adults who are not in employment , education or training .
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan ( NRRP ) is the most powerful tool available to bridge the gaps that prevent many young people and women from realising their potential and bringing cultural , social and economic wealth to European society . Italy , in particular , has nearly 200bn euros at
its disposal with a view to kick-starting the country ’ s future – 20bn will be allocated to people with disabilities , young people , women and communities from the south of the country , which will be essential in terms of increasing employment prospects and encouraging workforce inclusivity .
Ultimately , the goal is to reduce inequalities between generations and minimise territorial , gender and social gaps . The NRRP estimates that – as a result of the measures which will be introduced – youth employment will increase by 3.3 % by 2026 . Equal pay and gender parity in the employment space is also a priority for the Italian government and the aim is to make progress towards achieving these goals in ten years ’ time .
In order for businesses to thrive it is necessary to invest in generational turnover , a crucial step for the survival of every company . This is an element of business sustainability which is still very much ignored in Italy as the average age of entrepreneurs in the country has reached 68 . Training employees is also key for the future of many different sectors . Businesses must offer flexible and engaging training programs to upskill employees as well as transmit an inspiring company culture to young workers in junior roles .
This should also take place in sectors that are strategic for the country ’ s recovery , where traditionally women have been less likely to be seen in executive roles and young people are less likely to pursue careers . This includes industries such as construction , as only 11 % of construction workers are under 30 .
According to Associazione Nazionale Costruttori Edili ( ANCE ), the construction sector will need an additional 265,000 employees by 2022 . The industry as well as other strategic sectors must commit to attracting fresh talent if we want to be at the forefront of the economic recovery .
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