Local production system in Bologna

Abstract

The project FLOWS: Impact of local welfare systems on femalelabour force participation and social cohesion has been funded under the EU FP7 program, grant Agreement no: 266806

This report focuses on the female participation in the labour market in Bologna, a city with particular features in comparison with the Italian situation, as far women employment opportunities are concerned. In particular, Bologna has the highest rate of women employment in the country: the Lisbon target has been reached around 10 years ago, especially thanks to a cultural attitude oriented to female participation in the labour market and a consequent strong institutional support to welfare provisions, especially related to the childcare. However, during the last decade, this system has began to waver, both for endogenous and external factors: a change in the local political environment and, at the same time, severe cuttings in the national funds oriented to social policies. This situation has especially affected the quality of women participation into the labour market, related to both the instability of the female work conditions and the segregation of the most vulnerable groups in particular sectors and positions. Also the impacts of the recent economic crisis seem to affect more these aspects of the problem. The report is structured in this way: a) firstly it analyzes the transformations into the local economy and how these changes have affected woman employment opportunities; b) secondly it focuses on the level of female occupational segregation; c) finally it presents some information about local and national policies related to the topic.