In-work poverty at the local level: gender inequalities and empirical evidence from administrative sources

Abstract

This study investigates in-work poverty within the local context of an Italy’s province with  two main objectives: (1) assessing whether the main individual and household-level risk factors identified by national and international research are also valid at subnational level, even in contexts where poverty is relatively less widespread; (2) evaluating the feasibility and adequacy of using administrative data sources to study socio-economic vulnerability. The broader goal is to contribute to the understanding of in-work poverty by exploring its determinants within a localized context and by testing the potential and added value of existing data infrastructures. The analysis focuses on the province of Reggio Emilia, using microdata from CAF-CGIL users. While the dataset is not statistically representative and lacks certain key variables - such as working hours, education, and industry -  nonetheless it offers a rich, replicable data resource for local-level research. Empirical findings confirm the relevance of established risk factors such as household composition and labour market attachment. The incidence of in-work poverty is particularly high among foreign citizens, single-parent households, and large families. Furthermore, logistic regression models highlight the so-called “gender paradox”: women living with partner are generally less likely to be working poor, but in single-earner households female workers face a significantly greater risk. This outcome reflects gendered economic dependence and household dynamics, contributing to the broader debate on in-work poverty and its determinants at the local level.