In Italy the gender gap in income is over 40%, the Women Economic Forum kicks off

The gender gap in income exceeds 40% in Italy, compared to an OECD average of 35%. Globally, women represent approximately 25-30% of the AI ​​workforce and less than 15% of the industry's leadership roles. It is from these imbalances that the discussion of the fourth edition of the Women Economic Forum Italy begins, inaugurated today in Turin and scheduled until 26 October.

Three days of meetings, between Palazzo Perrone di San Martino and the OGR Turin, to face the challenges of female participation in the economy, from artificial intelligence to work, from finance to health, with the aim of translating the discussion into concrete initiatives for gender equality. The event, in its fourth edition, recorded 1.2 million streaming users and 1,900 participants from 58 countries in 2025.

"We have chosen the Agora as a format: a space for meeting and shared participation that encourages the exchange of ideas and the development of concrete solutions", explains Marilena Citelli Francese, president of the Forum.

At the conclusion of the inaugural ceremony, the Manifesto of the Women Economic Forum Italia was announced, with the aim of translating the discussion into concrete actions for gender equality. "We need to intervene on training, on services for families, on the sharing of care responsibilities and on access to decision-making roles. We hope that the dialogue between institutions, businesses, the world of research and civil society can translate into new collaborations and concrete initiatives, capable of expanding the opportunities for participation and professional growth of women" observes Anna Maria Poggi, president of the Crt Foundation, which supports the initiative.