Women, public employment and artificial intelligence

On 14 July 2025, CESI held a national conference in Terrasini (Palermo) entitled “Il lavoro delle donne nel pubblico impiego e la sfida dell’intelligenza artificiale”, organised within the framework of the EU-funded eQualPRO project and in cooperation with Italian trade union partners, including ANIEF and CISAL. The event gathered representatives of public authorities, trade unions, social partners and experts to reflect on the evolving situation of women in the public sector and on the opportunities and risks linked to the rapid development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

The discussions focused on how AI and digitalisation are transforming recruitment, career progression, training and performance evaluation in public administrations, and on the risk that existing gender inequalities may be reproduced or even amplified through biased algorithms and new forms of work organisation. Speakers also addressed long-standing challenges such as gender pay and pension gaps, access to flexible working arrangements, work–life balance, and the protection of maternity and family life, with particular attention to the role of collective action in shaping fair outcomes.

Through expert contributions and exchanges of national experiences, the conference highlighted the key responsibility of trade unions and social partners in anticipating change, promoting gender-sensitive policies and ensuring that technological innovation supports inclusive, safe and equitable workplaces. The event concluded with a forward-looking discussion on strategies to mitigate AI-related risks and to harness digital transformation as a driver for greater gender equality in the public sector.

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