VENETO - Employment
A growing female participation
The ratio of active population is higher than the national average. In fact, in 2002 active population was 52.7% (52.5% in 2001) of the total population, compared to the 48.8% (48.4% in 2001) Italian figure. Both the male rate and the female rate are above the national average. The overall rate has slightly grown since 1990; in the same period the male rate has slightly fallen, whereas the female rate has risen from 35.3% to 41.1% (40.9% 2001). The activity rate of the young generations (between 15 and 24 years of age) has fallen from 49.8% to 44.9%.
In 2002, the employment rate in the 15 to 64 age group was equal to 63% (62.7% in 2001), which is amongst the highest in Italy. It has grown by 9.9% since 1994, due to a 22% increase in the female employment rate, growing from 41.6% in 1994 to 50.7% in 2002.
Employment in the services sector growing, but still below the national average
Agriculture in Veneto employs 4.2% of the workforce (2001 data), while industry gives jobs to 40.7% of it, a figure far higher than the national average (31.8%), though in relative decline since the 1970s. The services sector is growing (55.1% of the workforce), but it is still far below the national average (63%). There are in fact less people employed in public administration and defence with respect to the national average. The number of self-employed is falling in agriculture as a result of the gradual modernisation of the sector, while the rise in self-employment in industry and services is an indication of a thriving small-business system.
Male unemployment at minimum levels and increasing part-time
The region's unemployment situation has been improving for several years thanks to the economic growth and to a fall in the number of people entering the labour market. Demographic factors influence the number of unemployed seeking their first job, while higher family incomes have reduced the need to work.
The scarcity of local labour force in industry is tackled both resorting to immigrants? labour force and to the delocalisation of certain industrial processes, mainly towards Eastern European countries.
In 2002, the unemployment rate in Veneto was equal to 3.4% (3.5% 2001), the third lowest in Italy after Trentino and Emilia Romagna (second after Trentino in 2001), and well below the national average of 9.0% (9.5% in 2001). The male unemployment rate was 2.2% (2.1% in 2001), whereas the female rate was 5.2% (5.4% in 2001). Women represent 61% (63% in 2001) of the unemployed. 28.6% of the unemployed in Veneto (25% in 2001) belong to the long-term unemployment category (more than 12 consecutive months of unemployment). The unemployment rate of people under 25 was 7.6% in 2002 (8.9% in 2001).
In recent years there was a significant increase in part-time work, concerning 200 000 employees in 2002, i.e. 10.5% of the total employed people. The increase is due almost exclusively to female workers: 22% of them work part-time. Among all Italian regions, only Trentino Alto Adige shows a higher percentage of part-time workers.
Qualifications are still not much of an advantage for the younger unemployed. In fact, in 2002, the unemployed with senior secondary school certificates and university degrees made up for 37% (45% in 2001) of the total unemployed and 53% (60% in 2001) of unemployed under 30 years of age.
An increasing school-attendance rate
In Veneto the ratio of non-active population is lower than the national average and lower than in the past due to the reduced size of the young age group. The firms? tendency to employ qualified staff seems to have contributed to a rise in young people?s school-attendance rate. In 2000, 52% (49% in 2001) of students aged 15 to 24 years (more than half of which girls) were staying at school after compulsory schooling, bringing a region traditionally lagging behind with education into line with the rest of Italy.
Approximately 65% of the secondary school students opt for technical or vocational education; the region in fact devotes almost 11% of its budget to vocational training. University attendance has increased in the last 15 years and new enrolled students have been over 20 000 in the academic year 2002-03. Padua is an ancient and prestigious university in a region that also boasts a number of more recent institutions.
Low wages
Employees in Veneto in general earn less than the national average. This gap is due to the nature of local industry. In the consumer goods? sector - such as the clothing trade, an industry thriving in the region - wages are traditionally low, reflecting the low level of per capita value. This gap shows no declining trend. Instead, earnings in commerce are in line with the national average. Anyway, if analysing only the Veneto situation, in recent years wage increases have been higher in industry and construction and slightly lower in banking and insurance.
Households? high income and increasing non-food expenditure
In Veneto in 1996, 30% of households had an annual income under Euro 18 000, and 30% over Euro 32 000. With household incomes 16% higher than the national average, Veneto was the second region of Italy in terms of household income. Expenditure on foodstuffs took up 18% of family budgets, 5% less than in 1990. Over the same period, there was a significant increase in non-food expenditure (up 50% in real terms), clear evidence of a higher standard of living. In general, according to 2001 data, households in Veneto spent 3% less on food products than the average Italian family, though they spent more on housing and transport, the major items in non-food expenditure.
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