Job Satisfaction among Older Workers: Differences between Native and Migrant Populations in Italy

Eleonora Trappolini , Sapienza University of Rome
Alessandra De Rose, Sapienza University of Rome

In high-income countries, population ageing and migration are significantly affecting the population structure. Population ageing poses challenges related to intergenerational support, healthcare, and pension systems. Migration further complicates the ageing process of populations introducing diverse individuals into this dynamic. As national labour market policies focus on extending working lives for pension program sustainability, the effects on older workers vary across countries, especially for those in physically demanding jobs. Italy has experienced a rapid increase in the elderly population, including among migrants. This demographic shift, along with efforts to extend working life, has led to the rapid ageing of the Italian workforce. Moreover, there is a growing presence of migrants in the workforce in highly developed economies who are experiencing progressive ageing. Given these changing dynamics, examining job satisfaction among older individuals, both native-born and migrants, becomes critical. This study investigates how migration status influences job satisfaction among older workers in Italy. We further distinguish between migrants who arrived at an older age and those who aged in Italy. Using data from the 2022 Italian Labour Force Survey and conducting preliminary analysis by applying OLS models stratified by sex, preliminary results indicate that migrant female workers are generally less satisfied with their jobs than Italians, especially those who migrated at an older age. No differences are observed among male workers. Understanding job satisfaction dynamics among older workers in the context of population ageing and migration is crucial for shaping effective policies to enhance job satisfaction and extend working lives.

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 Presented in Session P2. Health, Mortality, Ageing - Aperitivo