Investigation by Quantitas srl, supervision by N. Faraoni
The survey was conducted by Quantitas srl, under the scientific supervision of Natalia Faraoni of IRPET, within the Public Economy Research Area coordinated by Patrizia Lattarulo. The survey, conducted at the initiative of the Regional Commission of Professionals, was funded by ESF funds.
According to the latest report on the freelance professions in Italy, the female presence is growing, thanks primarily to the contribution of younger generations and the impact of specific sectors such as social assistance, healthcare, and the legal profession, where women now represent the majority. Furthermore, in this area, an inverse relationship is emerging between employment growth and the growth of value added. Considering the branch of activity defined by ISTAT as “professional, scientific, and technical activities, administration, and support services,” employment more than doubled from 1995 to 2018. Conversely, value added per employee has declined, indicating a decline in remuneration, especially for new entrants into various professional activities. Combined with the lack of protections for self-employment in general, but particularly regarding work-life balance, maternity, and parental leave, the importance of better investigating the conditions of female professionals becomes clear. From a gender equality perspective, the world of freelance professions is a uniquely challenging environment, where both modern and challenging work-life balance situations can coexist. To explore aspects such as the working conditions of Tuscan professionals, the level of protection and services offered, as well as the work-life balance mechanisms implemented in daily life, a direct survey of professionals was conducted within the framework of the joint activities program with the Tuscany Region pursuant to Ministerial Decree no. 8226 of April 19, 2023 – Activity 2, “Report on Gender Conditions.” The survey was conducted in collaboration with the Regional Commission of Professional Entities and with funding from the European Social Fund. We believe this survey plays an important role in assessing gender conditions and correctly guiding institutional decisions aimed at supporting professionals.
