Employment and unemployment (provisional estimates) - February 2023

In February 2023 the number of unemployed people decreased, while employed and inactive persons remained stable.

On a monthly basis, the stablity of employment was the result of a increase among men and in all age groups, with the exception of people aged 35-49: for the latter, as well as for women, employment decreased. Overall, the employment rate grew to 60.8% (+0.1 p.p.).

In the last month, the decline of unemployed persons (-0.6%, -12 thousand) involved women, people under the age of 35 and those over 50 years. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.0%, the youth rate fell down to 22.4% (-0.4 p.p.).

In February the stability in the number of inactive people aged 15 to 64 was the result of growth among women and people over 35 years of age and a decrease among men and young people. The inactivity rate was stable at 33.8%.

In the period December 2022-February 2023, with respect to the previous quarter (September-November 2022), employment increased (+0.4%, +99 thousand).

In the last three months, a rise was registered for unemployed persons (+0.6%, +11 thousand) while inactive people aged 15-64 years dropped (-1.1%, -139 thousand).

Compared with February 2022, the number of employed persons increased by 1.5% (+352 thousand), the growth concerned both genders and all age groups except 35-49 years; the employment rate showed an increase of 1.2 p.p. .

On a yearly basis, the rise of employed people was accompanied by a decrease of both unemployed persons (-4.5%, -94 thousand) and inactive people aged 15-64 (-3.1%, -398 thousand).