La sfida dell’invecchiamento della forza lavoro: il ruolo delle parti sociali nell’inclusione dei lavoratori anziani

Population ageing and the extension of working lives represent a major challenge for European labour markets, yet policy interventions have focused primarily on pension rules rather than on the sustainability of longer careers. Italy constitutes a critical case, where demographic pressure, repeated pension reforms and labour-market deregulation have accelerated workforce ageing while expanding non-standard employment beyond early career stages. This paper analyses how Italian social partners frame workforce ageing and which instruments they consider viable for the labour-market inclusion of older workers. Based on nine semi-structured interviews with trade-union and employer representatives, professional associations and policy experts conducted between December 2023 and February 2024, the study employs thematic analysis to identify dominant frames, priorities and constraints. Findings reveal a persistent gap between the discourse of “active ageing” and its translation into coherent labour-market and workplace measures. Ageing is predominantly addressed through a socio-health perspective, while employment quality, continuous learning and work redesign receive limited attention. As a result, interventions tend to be indirect, uneven and concentrated in large organisations, with SMEs facing significant resource constraints. Weak coordination across governance levels and territorially fragmented activation measures further limit policy effectiveness. The analysis highlights pronounced gendered vulnerabilities in late careers, particularly among women with discontinuous work histories. The paper concludes by advocating an integrated, age-inclusive governance model centred on decent work and lifelong learning, with social partners playing a key intermediary role.