Gender gap in Italy: the numbers According to the latest Istat report on levels of education and subsequent employment, in spite of the fact that in Italy there is a greater number of female university graduates compared to male graduates (23.1% compared to 16.8%), this initial advantage in terms of a higher level of education does not then lead to employment. The female employment rate is indeed lower than the male rate (55.7% compared to 75.8%). A recent survey by Intesa San Paolo shows that the Italian gender gap is even more striking on a European level, with Italy in second to last position in terms of European female employment rate. In 2021, the percentage of women in employment out of the total population remained at 55.4% compared to the European average of 68.5%. Romania was the only country in the rankings with a worse female employment rate than Italy. Promoting female empowerment in Global Industry Despite the current criticisms however, there are signs indicating that bridging the gender gap is an achievable goal, even in the highest job positions. “It’s a challenge worth accepting,” chorus two young female Enel Green Power talents who succeeded in breaking into traditionally male dominated sectors, namely Paola Brunetto, automation engineer and current Head of the Hydrogen Business Unit, and Martina Ciani Bassetti, energy engineer and Head of Project Optimization & Tender Management for North America. They are both ambassadors for WomENergy, a workshop promoted by Enel Green Power and Enel Grids to promote female empowerment in global industry. “This project was set up to create a female network and build valuable relationships between emerging young talents and managers in highly complex positions,” Paola Brunetto begins. “We held two meetings: in the first, our youngest colleagues and managers with years of experience had the opportunity to get to know each other and discuss ideas; in the second meeting, we carried out some specially designed games to reflect together on professional issues, including future aspirations both in career terms and on a more personal level. Both experiences brought out common themes, interesting insights and fruitful, in-depth discussions”. After the success of the first edition, it was decided to repeat the WomENergy workshop in the future. “Taking part alongside all these female colleagues made me really determined to take part in new challenges,” says Martina Ciani Bassetti. "One of the most promising features of the upcoming meetings, which will be open to male colleagues as well, will be to design a new leadership model which will pay even more attention to relationships between people and recognising merit and talent, while still of course respecting existing objectives.” The challenge of female inclusion “Enel Green Power is a company that is working hard on this matter,” agrees Paola Brunetto. Regarding the Italian situation, which, according to a recent UE27 Istat-Eurostat report, shows a much lower percentage of female managers compared to the European average (23% as opposed to 33%), we currently find ourselves in 21st place. “I would like to say to talented young women that it’s possible to overcome the challenge of female inclusion and take on managerial roles in important companies like Enel Green Power. We’re on the right road. We can look to the future with optimism,” concludes Brunetto. When it comes to female empowerment, unity really does mean strength.
