Bologna, 8 May 2024 – TheEmilia Romagna to the second place of the most regions ‘mother friendly’. This is what emerges from the ninth edition of the report ‘Le Equilibriste – maternity in Italy 2024’ by Save The Children.
In the week leading up to Mother’s Dayscheduled for Sunday 12 May, the general picture of the birth rate in Italy remains worrying: according to data, one in five workers leaves the job market after becoming a mother. Moreover: 72.8% of ‘validations’ of new parents’ resignations concern women.
2023 then recorded a new one historic low of births in Italy, now firmly below 400 thousand units, with a decrease of 3.6% compared to the previous year. In the female population of childbearing age, conventionally defined as between 15 and 49 years old, the average number of children per woman is, in fact, 1.20, showing a decline compared to 2022 (1.24). Very far from the 2010 figure, when the average number of children had reached the relative maximum recorded in the last twenty years, equal to 1.44.
The Index of Mothers
Like every year, the study of Save The Children also includes theIndex of Mothersdeveloped by Istat: one ranking of Italian regions where for mothers it is easier to live.
This data, equal to 100 for Italy in 2022, represents the reference term with respect to which to grasp a more favorable socio-economic condition for women in case of values higher than it, or on the contrary less advantageous if they are at levels lower than 100.
This year too, the Index rewards Autonomous Province of Bolzano (115,255) leading the mother-friendly territories, followed by Emilia Romagna (110,530) e Tuscany (109.239), while Basilicata brings up the rear, preceded at the bottom of the ranking by Campania And Sicily.
Compared to 2022, Emilia-Romagna therefore maintains second place, however decreasing its score from 112.158 to 110.530. Tenth position instead for the Marche (the same as the 2022 edition) which goes from 103.063 to 104.016.
The factors taken into consideration on the study are the Workthe representation of women in political bodies at local level, the Healthi servicesthe subjective satisfaction and the violence.
Emilia-Romagna obtained a high score for services and health (ranking third and fourth place respectively in Italy), but lower for work (tenth position) and subjective satisfaction (fourteenth). Also noteworthy is the item violence, which calls into question the presence of anti-violence centers and shelters: the region is in fourth place.
Birth rate
Italy is also the European country with the higher average age of women at the time of the birth of the first child (31.6 years), with a significant percentage of first births to mothers over 40 (8.9%, a rate lower only than that of Spain).
Decrease in employment
A indicator of difficulties that mothers face in reconciling family and work commitments – it is explained in the report – is represented by the number of employed women aged between 25 and 54: compared to a female employment rate of 63.8%, women without children who work reach 68.7%, while only just over half of those with two or more minor children are employed (57.8%).
In reversefor men of the same age, the total employment rate is 83.7%, with a variation that goes from 77.3% for those without children, up to 91.3% for those with a minor child and to 91.6% for those with two or more.
