Abstract

The article presents the main features of self-employed workers’ training behaviour, as evidenced by the second edition of the INDACO- Adults 2020 INAPP survey, also in the light of the pandemic crisis and the first changes induced by digital transformation. The analysis is complemented with a forecast of self-employment in Italy (starting from a forecast survey conducted by INAPP in 2021) by analysing the evolution of the adequacy of the legal and regulatory framework, the system of skills and knowledge in the face of the challenges posed by change, as well as the role of training and its support tools. The article highlights the reasons behind the gaps that some categories of self-employed workers still experience in training investments, also in comparison with employees, and discriminatory elements in terms of access to continuing training. The contribution underlines that the devaluation phenomena present in various forms of self-employment can be addressed by incentivising significant reskilling and upskilling actions; this is necessary with a view to increasing bargaining power in the search for more sustainable and inclusive self-employment.