Employment and unemployment (monthly)

After the growth observed in the previous months, in July 2019 the estimate of employed people decreased; the employment rate dropped at 59.1% (-0.1 percentage points).

The decrease of employment involved both men and women. The drop is concentrated among people aged 35-49 (-45 thousand) while in the other age groups the employment grew.

The number of unemployed persons rose (+1.1%, +28 thousand in the last month); the increase involved both men and women and all age groups, with the exception of people aged 25-34. The unemployment rate rose to 9.9% (+0.1 percentage points), the youth rate increased to 28.9% (+0.8 percentage points).

Inactive people aged 15-64 decreased (-0.2%, -28 thousand), as the result of a reduction among both men and women. The inactivity rate remained unchanged at 34.2%.

In the period from May to July 2019, employment considerably rose compared with the previous quarter (+0.4%, +101 thousand), even by gender.

In the last three months, the rise of employment was accompanied by the drop of unemployed persons (-3.4%, -91 thousand) and inactive people aged 15-64 years (-0.2%, -24 thousand).

Compared with July 2018, employment increased by 0.8% (+193 thousand). The growth concerned both men and women, and all age groups, with the exception of people aged 35-49.

On a yearly basis, the rise of employment was accompanied by a fall of unemployed persons (-4.5%, -121 thousand) and inactive people aged 15-64 (-1.2%, -163 thousand).