Women, Men, and Job Satisfaction: An Analysis of the Multidimensional Gender Gap and Its Heterogeneity in Italy

This study examines the gender gap in job satisfaction in Italy, focusing on whether and to what extent women report higher satisfaction than men, despite often having lower-quality jobs - a phenomenon known as the “paradox of contented female worker”. The concept of job satisfaction is considered from a multidimensional perspective, analysing eight distinct dimensions of job satisfaction. Italy represents a compelling backdrop to study the job satisfaction gender gap: indeed, in the light of its peculiar institutional and cultural characteristics, women in Italy face a severe penalization in working conditions, and this country is characterized by marked objective gender inequalities in the labor market. The study finds that women, on average, report higher job satisfaction compared to men. However, the gender gap is narrower for younger, more educated women and those living in northern Italy. Nuances of these findings are presented, and implications are discussed.