Italy is facing a severe poverty crisis, with over 14 million people at risk of poverty and living in precarious economic conditions. Despite recent improvements in labor market data, there are still almost 2 million unemployed and 6.6 million “working poor” individuals. In addition, over 5 million people are in absolute poverty.
According to a report by the Unimpresa study center, the number of people at risk of poverty decreased slightly last year to 8.44 million. However, this is not enough to address the severity of the crisis. The government must take action to reduce this number further through initiatives that support business growth, investment, and job creation. This includes reducing bureaucracy, taxes, and providing incentives for creating new, stable jobs.
The main focus should be on improving the working conditions of those employed in difficult situations while also providing support for the poor in reentering the workforce. Efforts must be made to prevent the situation from worsening for those employed in precarious jobs while also addressing the root causes of poverty such as unemployment and underemployment.
The report also highlights that there was a slight decrease in workers at risk of poverty and unemployed individuals in 2023 compared to the previous year. Part-time fixed-term contracts increased by 6.1%, while employees with fixed-term and full-time contracts decreased by 4.4%. However, this progress must be built upon to create long-term solutions that will reduce poverty levels and improve economic stability for all Italians.
Overall, Italy needs urgent action to address its poverty crisis and improve economic conditions for all citizens. This includes reducing bureaucracy, taxes, and promoting job creation initiatives that provide stable employment opportunities for all Italians. Only then can Italy overcome its current challenges and build a brighter future for all its citizens.
