Saturday, 15 March 2025
The employment market in January 2025 experienced positive growth, with the number of employed individuals increasing while unemployment and inactivity rates declined. The employment rate rose to 62.8%, reflecting a 0.4 percentage point increase compared to the previous month.
Employment gains were observed across both men and women, as well as all age groups, except for individuals aged 35-49, where a decline was recorded. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed persons dropped by 0.6%, equivalent to a reduction of 9,000 individuals. This decline was particularly evident among men and across most age groups, although there was an increase in unemployment for those aged 25-34. The unemployment rate fell to 6.3%, marking a 0.1 percentage point decrease, while the youth unemployment rate also declined to 18.7%, down by 0.3 percentage points. The number of unemployed women remained stable during this period.
Inactivity levels also saw a notable decline, with the number of inactive individuals falling by 1.2%, amounting to a reduction of 146,000 people. This decline was observed across men, women, and individuals aged 15-34 and 50 and over, whereas those aged 35-49 saw an increase in inactivity. Consequently, the inactivity rate dropped to 32.9%, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points.
Looking at the broader quarterly trends from November 2024 to January 2025, employment rose by 0.4%, adding 85,000 new jobs compared to the previous quarter of August to October 2024. However, the number of unemployed persons increased by 1.4%, equating to 22,000 additional unemployed individuals. At the same time, inactivity among people aged 15-64 declined by 0.8%, reflecting a reduction of 99,000 individuals.
On an annual basis, employment showed strong growth, with the number of employed individuals rising by 2.2%, amounting to an increase of 513,000 people. This increase was recorded across both sexes and among individuals aged 25-34 and 50 and over, while employment decreased for other age groups. The employment rate improved by 1.0 percentage point over the year.
The yearly increase in employment was accompanied by a significant reduction in the number of unemployed individuals, which fell by 10.7%, equivalent to 194,000 fewer unemployed persons. Additionally, the number of inactive individuals aged 15-64 dropped by 1.3%, representing a decrease of 158,000 people. These figures indicate a continued strengthening of the labor market, with positive trends in employment and reduced inactivity levels contributing to overall economic stability.
Source: Istat
