Employment and unemployment (provisional estimates) - May 2025

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

On a monthly basis, employment grew (+0.3%, +80 thousand) for both genders and people aged 50 and over, but decreased for younger people. Overall, the employment rate climbed to 62.9% (+0.2 p.p.).

In the last month, the rise in the number of unemployed people (+7.1%, +113 thousand) affected both sexes and all age groups. The unemployment rate climbed to 6.5% (+0.4 p.p.), as well as the youth rate, up to 21.6% (+1.7 p.p.).

In May, the number of inactive people decreased (-1.4%, -172 thousand) for men, women and all age groups. The inactivity rate fell to 32.6% (-0.5 p.p.).

In the quarter March-May 2025, with respect to the previous one (December 2024-February 2025), employment increased (+0.4%, +93 thousand).

On a quarterly basis, a rise was registered in the number of unemployed persons (+0.8%, +13 thousand) while the number of inactive people aged 15-64 years decreased (-0.8%, -94 thousand).

Compared with May 2024, the number of employed persons increased by 1.7% (+408 thousand); the growth affected both sexes and those in the 25-34 and 50+ age groups, while employment decreased for people aged 15-24 and 35-49. Over the year, the employment rate showed a rise of 0.8 p.p. .

On a yearly basis, the rise of employed people was accompanied by a growth of unemployed people (+0.9%, +15 thousand) and a decrease of inactive people aged 15-64 (-2.6%, -320 thousand).