Employment and unemployment (provisional data) - May 2026

In May 2026 the number of employed and unemployed people decreased, while the number of inactive people increased.

On a monthly basis, employment went down (-0.1%, -22 thousand) for both sexes and all age groups except for those aged 50 and over, for whom employment grew. Overall, the employment rate fell to 63.0% (-0.1 p.p.).

In the last month, the drop in the number of unemployed people (-1.7%, -22 thousand) affected women and those in the 15-24 and 50+ age groups, while it grew in the other age groups. Among men, unemployment was substantially unchanged. The unemployment rate declined to 5.0% (-0.1 p.p.), while the youth rate fell to 15.1% (-1.3 p.p.).

In May, the increase in the number of inactive people aged 15-64 (+0.5%, +59 thousand) affected both sexes and all age groups, with the exception of 25-34-year-olds, among whom inactivity decreased. The inactivity rate rose to 33.6% (+0.2 p.p.).

In the quarter March-May 2026, with respect to the previous one (December 2025-February 2026), employment rose (+0.5%, +119 thousand).

On a quarterly basis, a drop was registered in the number of unemployed persons (-5.0%, -68 thousand) and in the number of inactive people aged 15-64 (-0.3%, -38 thousand).

Compared with May 2025, the number of employed persons increased (+0.9%, +228 thousand); the rise affected both sexes, the 25-34 and 50+ age groups, while employment decreased among those aged          15-24 and 35-49. Over the year, the employment rate grew (+0.4 p.p.).

On a yearly basis, the number of unemployed people fell (-23.8%, -399 thousand), while the number of inactive people aged 15-64 increased (+1.5%, +190 thousand).