8 March in Sicily between work and rights but equality for women is still far away

The road to equality for Sicilian women is still long and uphill. The gap with men and with national averages is still wide regarding employment, a prerequisite for autonomy and a means of personal affirmation. According to the 2025 Inps gender report, 34.9% of women in the island have a job, compared to the national figure of 53.3% and the regional male percentage of 58.9%.

As for the unemployment rate, that of women in Sicily is 15%, compared to 11% for men. In the island, women who stop looking for work account for 58.8%, against the inactivity rate of men at 33%. The issue of gender gaps is being raised by Cgil Sicilia on the eve of March 8.

"Despite the Pnrr, despite the many battles for gender equality - write in a note Gabriella Messina, confederal secretary of Cgil Sicilia, and Elvira Morana, head of the union for gender policies - the distances are still long and this also concerns wages, which are lower than those of men and consequently pensions, and career advancements. In fact, for women, the citizenship rights and equal opportunities mentioned in our Constitution are not fully guaranteed today."

Women, and this happens throughout the country, are more subject to involuntary part-time work. And among the discouraged, they make up the largest group, accounting for 27.40% of Neet, a regional figure, compared to the national female average of 16.60% and the Sicilian male average of 24.20%. "Our country and Sicily - state Messina and Morana - must make a qualitative leap primarily in terms of culture."