Employment and unemployment (provisional estimates) - January 2026

In January 2026 the number of employed and inactive people increased, while unemployed people decreased.

On a monthly basis, employment grew (+0.3%, +80 thousand) for men and every age group except those aged 15-24, for whom it fell; among women employment was substantially stable. Overall, the employment rate climbed at 62.6% (+0.2 p.p.).

In the last month, the drop in the number of unemployed people (-7.1%, -99 thousand) affected both sexes and all age groups. The unemployment rate fell to 5.1% (-0.4 p.p.), the youth rate to 18.9% (-1.9 p.p.).

In January, the increase in the number of inactive people aged 15-64 (+0.3%, +35 thousand) affected women and people aged 15-24, while it decreased among men and those aged 25-49 and remained substantially unchanged for peole aged 50 or over. The inactivity rate grew to 33.9% .

In the quarter November 2025-January 2026, with respect to the previous one (August-October 2025), employment rose (+0.1%, +23 thousand).

On a quarterly basis, a drop was registered in the number of unemployed persons (-8.4%, -125 thousand) while the number of inactive people aged 15-64 increased (+0.9%, +116 thousand).

Compared with January 2025, the number of employed persons increased (+0.3%, +70 thousand); the growth affected women and those aged 50+, while employment decreased for other age groups and was substantially stable among men. Over the year, the employment rate remained unchanged.

On a yearly basis, the number of unemployed people fell (-22.7%, -384 thousand) while the number of inactive people aged 15-64 grew (+2.6%, +322 thousand).