Employment and unemployment (provisional estimates)

After the growth observed in the previous months, in June 2019 the estimate of employed people remained stable; the employment rate rose at 59.2% (+0.1 percentage points).

The stability of employment was the result of a growth among women (+15 thousand) and a decrease among men (-21 thousand). Employed people aged 15-24 and 35-49 grew (+10 and +5 thousand respectively), while the 25-34 and the over 50 decreased (-4 and -18 thousand respectively).

The number of unemployed persons declined again (-1.1%, -29 thousand in the last month); the reduction involved both men and women and all age groups, with the exception of people aged 25-34. The unemployment rate dropped to 9.7% (-0.1 percentage points), the youth rate decreased to 28.1% (-1.5 percentage points).

In June, inactive people aged 15-64 slight decreased (-0.1%, -14 thousand), as the result of an increase among men (+18 thousand) and a fall for women (-33 thousand). The inactivity rate was unchanged at 34.3% for the fifth consecutive month.

In the period from April to June 2019, employment considerably rose compared with the previous quarter (+0.5%, +124 thousand), even by gender.

In the last three months, the rise of employment was accompanied by the drop of unemployed persons (-4.3%, -114 thousand) and inactive people aged 15-64 years (-0.2%, -22 thousand).

Compared with June 2018, employment increased by 0.5% (+115 thousand). The growth concerned men and women, young people aged 15-24 years (+46 thousand) and mainly persons over 50 (+292 thousand), while central age groups declined.

On a yearly basis, the rise of employment was accompanied by the considerable fall of unemployed persons (-10.2%, -288 thousand) and the growth of inactive people aged 15-64 (+0.2%, +23 thousand).