Italy: Employment rises in February 2025 while unemployment continues to decline

Provisional estimates for February 2025 show an overall improvement in the labour market. The number of employed and inactive individuals increased, while the number of unemployed persons declined.

Employment rose slightly on a monthly basis, bringing the employment rate to 63.0%, an increase of 0.1 percentage points. Gains were observed among women and across most age groups, although employment fell among men and individuals aged 25–34.

The number of unemployed people fell by 79,000 in February, a decrease of 4.9% from the previous month. This decline was recorded across both sexes and all age categories. As a result, the overall unemployment rate dropped to 5.9%, down 0.3 percentage points. The youth unemployment rate also fell, reaching 16.9%, a decrease of 1.4 percentage points.

At the same time, the number of inactive individuals—those not in employment or actively seeking work—increased by 33,000 (0.3%). This rise was observed mainly among men and those aged 25–34. Inactivity declined among women and other age groups, while it remained largely unchanged among 15–24-year-olds. The inactivity rate for the month rose slightly to 32.9%, up 0.1 percentage points.

In the three-month period from December 2024 to February 2025, employment increased by 199,000 compared to the previous quarter, a growth of 0.8%. During the same period, the number of unemployed persons also rose by 32,000 (2.0%), while inactivity among people aged 15–64 declined by 208,000 (1.7%).

Looking at the annual trend, employment in February 2025 was up by 567,000 people, or 2.4%, compared to February 2024. The increase was seen in both men and women, particularly among those aged 15–24 and 50 and over. In contrast, employment declined in the other age groups. Over the year, the employment rate increased by 1.1 percentage points.

The annual growth in employment was accompanied by a sharp decline in unemployment, which fell by 342,000 (18.4%), and a modest drop in the number of inactive persons aged 15–64, down by 60,000 (0.5%).

Source: Istat