Employment and unemployment (provisional estimates)

In June 2020, in comparison with the previous month, the decrease in employment and the growth in unemployment continued, though at a slower pace, against a drop of inactivity.

On a monthly basis, the decline of employment (-0.2%, -46 thousand) concerned only women ( 0.9%, 86 thousand) while employed men increased (+0.3%, +39 thousand), leading the employment rate to 57.5% (-0.1 p. p.).

In the last month, the considerable growth of unemployed people (+7.3%, +149 thousand) concerned more men (+9.4%, +99 thousand) than women (+5.0%, +50 thousand). The unemployment rate rose back to 8.8% (+0.6 percentage points) and the youth rate increased to 27.6% (+1.9 p.p.).

In June the decline of inactive people aged 15-64 (-0.7%, -99 thousand) was registered only for men ( 2.5%, 131 thousand), while women grew (+0.4%, +31 thousand), taking the inactivity rate down to 36.8% ( 0.3 percentage points).

With respect to the previous quarter, in the period April – June 2020, employment considerably decreased (-2.0%, 459 thousand) for both genders.

In the last three months, also the number of unemployed persons decreased (-15.7%, -364 thousand), while a growth among inactive people aged 15-64 years was registered (+5.9%, +793 thousand).

Compared to June 2019, employment showed a decrease in terms of figures (-3.2%, -752 thousand) and rate (-1.8 percentage points).

On a yearly basis, the decrease of employed people was accompanied by a fall of unemployed persons (-11.5%, -286 thousand) and a growth of inactive people aged 15-64 (+6.8%, +899 thousand).

The survey process encountered some difficulties caused by the current health emergency, in particular in the data collection phase. Data treatment strategies have contrasted negative statistical effects and allowed for June 2020 data dissemination.