Employment and unemployment (provisional estimates) - December 2025

In December 2025 the number of both employed and unemployed people decreased, while inactive people increased.

On a monthly basis, employment fell (-0.1%, -20 thousand) for men and those aged 25-49; it grew among women and those aged 15-24, while remaining substantially unchanged for those aged 50+. Overall, the employment rate declined at 62.5% (-0.1 p.p.).

In the last month, the drop in the number of unemployed people (-1.0%, -15 thousand) affected women and all age groups except those aged 15-24, for whom, as for men, unemployment increased. The unemployment rate fell to 5.6% (-0.1 p.p.), the youth rate climbed to 20.5% (+1.4 p.p.).

In December, the rise in the number of inactive people aged 15-64 (+0.2%, +31 thousand) affected both genders and all age groups except those aged 15-24, for whom it decreased. The inactivity rate rose to 33.7% (+0.1 p.p.).

In the quarter October-December 2025, with respect to the previous one (July-September 2025), employment grew (+0.3%, +74 thousand).

On a quarterly basis, a drop was registered in the number of unemployed persons (-5.3%, -81 thousand) while the number of inactive people aged 15-64 increased (+0.3%, +34 thousand).

Compared with December 2024, the number of employed persons increased by 0.3% (+62 thousand); the growth affected women and those aged 50+, while employment decreased among men and other age groups. Over the year, the employment rate remained unchanged.

On a yearly basis, the increase in employment was accompanied by a fall in unemployment (-13.8%, -229 thousand) and by a rise in the number of inactive people aged 15-64 (+1.3%, +163 thousand).