Assolavoro: Anna Gionfriddo takes over as chair: ‘Expanding participation in the labour market’

At Assolavoro’s private general meeting, a new president was elected to succeed Francesco Baroni for the next three years. The employment agencies have placed their trust in Anna Gionfriddo, who thus becomes the first woman to lead the Confindustria association representing employment agencies. The presidential team is completed by four vice-presidents: Francesco Baroni (responsible for Public Labour Policies), Valeria Giaccari (responsible for Legality, Immigration and the Mattei Plan), Marco Pagano (responsible for Trade Union Relations and Bilateral Bodies) and Rudy Giuseppe Parracino (responsible for Education and the transition from school to work).

During the meeting, a number of strategic issues emerged that the agencies will need to address under the incoming presidency, which – as Gionfriddo highlighted following his election – will build on the work of its predecessor and see through many of the initiatives supported to date. Given that employment is the strategic lever for the country’s future and that it will be the main driver of competitiveness, growth and social cohesion for Italia, under the new presidency Assolavoro is committed to placing the issue of employment at the heart of the dialogue between institutions, businesses and the social partners.

Gionfriddo’s aim is to help build a modern, dynamic labour market capable of supporting the country’s development and managing the changes in work and skills. Among these, the most significant are artificial intelligence, technological transition, demographic change and the skills mismatch, which are profoundly altering employment and professions. Assolavoro, by drawing on the wealth of experience built up over the years by employment agencies, explains the new president, ‘aims to strengthen its role as an observatory and strategic partner in anticipating the needs of the market. Skills, continuous training and support during career transitions must be at the heart of the association’s work’.

Another challenge facing employment agencies will be to broaden participation in the labour market. Employment agencies have already made a tangible contribution to making the labour market more inclusive, by facilitating access to employment for women, young people, the over-50s and migrants. Assolavoro will redouble its efforts “to strengthen this approach, promoting a labour market capable of making the most of all available talent and transforming inclusion into a driver of economic and social growth”, says the new president, speaking of the need to develop new responses to demographic challenges and the needs of businesses.

According to Gionfriddo, ‘in the face of skills shortages and a shrinking workforce, we need new and more effective tools. Assolavoro aims to become an increasingly key partner in developing solutions that better match labour supply and demand, including through channels for legal immigration, training and professional integration. The challenge is to enable businesses to find the skills they need and to enable people to find sustainable, high-quality job opportunities.”