Italy's Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.9%: February Sees Increase of 47,000 Jobs
The latest figures show a notable increase in employment, particularly among women and temporary workers, amid a decline in job seekers.
In February 2025, Italy recorded a decrease in its unemployment rate to 5.9%, marking the lowest level since 2007. The month witnessed an increase in employment by 47,000 individuals, equivalent to a 0.2% rise compared to the previous month.
The increase in employment is largely attributed to women, temporary employees, and self-employed individuals, while the number of workers aged 25-34 experienced a decline.
The new employment statistics, released by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat), indicate that the uptick in both employment and inactive individuals corresponds with a drop in the number of unemployed.
Year-over-year, employment figures reveal a total increase of 567,000 jobs, driven by a notable rise in permanent positions (+538,000) and self-employed jobs (+141,000), despite a reduction in temporary roles (-112,000).
The number of job seekers also decreased by 4.9%, translating to 79,000 fewer individuals actively looking for work, which encompasses both genders and all age groups.
Concurrently, the youth unemployment rate fell to 16.9%, a decline of 1.4 percentage points.
However, the number of inactive individuals rose by 0.3%, amounting to 33,000 additional people, affecting men and those aged 25-34, while other age groups, especially women and those under 24, saw a decline or stability in inactivity rates.
The inactivity rate now stands at 32.9%, having increased by 0.1 percentage points.
Comparing the three-month period from December 2024 to February 2025 with the previous quarter (September to November 2024), there was an increase of 199,000 jobs, reflecting a growth rate of 0.8%.
This quarterly growth in employment coincided with an increase in the number of job seekers by 2.0%, or 32,000 individuals, alongside a decrease in inactive individuals by 1.7%, equating to 208,000 fewer individuals.
In February 2025, the total number of employed persons reached approximately 24.33 million.
In terms of job categories, autonomous workers increased to 5.17 million, and temporary employees reached 2.71 million, while the number of permanent employees remained relatively stable at 16.45 million.
The overall occupation rate improved to 63.0%, alongside the rise in inactivity to 32.9%, with the unemployment rate dropping to 5.9%.
These data reflect positive trends in employment across various sectors, highlighting significant shifts in the labor market landscape.
The increase in employment is largely attributed to women, temporary employees, and self-employed individuals, while the number of workers aged 25-34 experienced a decline.
The new employment statistics, released by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat), indicate that the uptick in both employment and inactive individuals corresponds with a drop in the number of unemployed.
Year-over-year, employment figures reveal a total increase of 567,000 jobs, driven by a notable rise in permanent positions (+538,000) and self-employed jobs (+141,000), despite a reduction in temporary roles (-112,000).
The number of job seekers also decreased by 4.9%, translating to 79,000 fewer individuals actively looking for work, which encompasses both genders and all age groups.
Concurrently, the youth unemployment rate fell to 16.9%, a decline of 1.4 percentage points.
However, the number of inactive individuals rose by 0.3%, amounting to 33,000 additional people, affecting men and those aged 25-34, while other age groups, especially women and those under 24, saw a decline or stability in inactivity rates.
The inactivity rate now stands at 32.9%, having increased by 0.1 percentage points.
Comparing the three-month period from December 2024 to February 2025 with the previous quarter (September to November 2024), there was an increase of 199,000 jobs, reflecting a growth rate of 0.8%.
This quarterly growth in employment coincided with an increase in the number of job seekers by 2.0%, or 32,000 individuals, alongside a decrease in inactive individuals by 1.7%, equating to 208,000 fewer individuals.
In February 2025, the total number of employed persons reached approximately 24.33 million.
In terms of job categories, autonomous workers increased to 5.17 million, and temporary employees reached 2.71 million, while the number of permanent employees remained relatively stable at 16.45 million.
The overall occupation rate improved to 63.0%, alongside the rise in inactivity to 32.9%, with the unemployment rate dropping to 5.9%.
These data reflect positive trends in employment across various sectors, highlighting significant shifts in the labor market landscape.
Translation:
Translated by AI
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