The unemployment rate in Italy rose to 5.7% in June 2026 from an upwardly revised 5.3% in May, exceeding market expectations of 5.1%. This marked the highest level since November 2025, as the number of unemployed individuals increased by 97 thousand from the previous month to a seven-month high of 1.46 million. Meanwhile, the employment rate remained unchanged at 62.9%, with the number of employed persons edging higher by 1 thousand to 24.31 million. Temporary employees increased by 91 thousand from the previous month, while permanent and self-employed workers declined by 46 thousand and 44 thousand, respectively. The youth unemployment rate, measuring jobseekers aged 15 to 24, advanced to 18.4% in June from a record low of 16.9% in May. The inactivity rate edged lower to 33.2% from 33.5%. source: National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT)

Unemployment Rate in Italy increased to 5.70 percent in June from 5.30 percent in May of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Italy averaged 9.25 percent from 1983 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 13.10 percent in November of 2014 and a record low of 5.30 percent in May of 2026. This page provides the latest reported value for - Italy Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Italy Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on August of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Italy increased to 5.70 percent in June from 5.30 percent in May of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Italy is expected to be 5.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Italy Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 6.00 percent in 2027 and 5.70 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-07-02 08:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
May 5% 5.1% 5.1% 5.1%
2026-07-30 09:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jun 5.7% 5.3% 5.1% 5.2%
2026-09-01 08:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jul 5.7%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 24309.61 24308.91 Thousand Jun 2026
Employment Rate 62.90 62.90 percent Jun 2026
Full Time Employment 15819.00 15933.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Job Vacancy Rate 1.60 1.70 percent Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 66.80 66.50 percent Jun 2026
Labour Costs 113.00 111.70 points Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 3032.00 2966.00 thousand Mar 2026
Productivity 98.34 98.34 points Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 1458.05 1360.61 Thousand Jun 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.70 5.30 percent Jun 2026
Wage Growth 2.50 2.50 percent Jun 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 115.90 114.60 points Jun 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 18.40 16.90 percent Jun 2026


Italy Unemployment Rate
In Italy, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5.70 5.30 13.10 5.30 1983 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Italy Jobless Rate at 7-Month High
The unemployment rate in Italy rose to 5.7% in June 2026 from an upwardly revised 5.3% in May, exceeding market expectations of 5.1%. This marked the highest level since November 2025, as the number of unemployed individuals increased by 97 thousand from the previous month to a seven-month high of 1.46 million. Meanwhile, the employment rate remained unchanged at 62.9%, with the number of employed persons edging higher by 1 thousand to 24.31 million. Temporary employees increased by 91 thousand from the previous month, while permanent and self-employed workers declined by 46 thousand and 44 thousand, respectively. The youth unemployment rate, measuring jobseekers aged 15 to 24, advanced to 18.4% in June from a record low of 16.9% in May. The inactivity rate edged lower to 33.2% from 33.5%.
2026-07-30
Italy Jobless Rate Drops to 5% in May
The unemployment rate in Italy ticked down to 5.0% in May 2026 from 5.1% in April, slightly below market expectations of 5.1%. This was the lowest level since the current data series began in 2004, as the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 22 thousand month-on-month to 1.28 million, which affected men, women, fixed-term employees, and all age groups except those aged 50 and over. The employment rate edged down to 63.0% from a record high of 63.1%, with the number of employed persons dropping by 22 thousand to 24.34 million. Italy’s employment rate remained among the lowest in the eurozone. The inactivity rate rose to 33.6% from a six-month low of 33.45%. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate, measuring jobseekers between 15 and 24 years old, declined to a new record low of 15.1% in May from 16.4% in April.
2026-07-02
Italy Jobless Rate Ticks Down to 5.1% in April
The unemployment rate in Italy edged down to 5.1% in April 2026 from 5.2% in March, below market expectations of 5.3%. This marked the lowest level since the current data series began in 2004, as the number of unemployed individuals fell by 18 thousand month-on-month to 1.31 million, with declines recorded among both men and women and across all age groups except those aged 35–49. The employment rate rose to 63.1% from 62.7% in each of the previous three months, with the number of employed persons rising by 123 thousand to a record 24.34 million. Despite the increase, the country's employment rate remained among the lowest in the euro zone. The inactivity rate decreased to 33.4%, the lowest in six months, from 33.7% a month ago. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate, measuring jobseekers between 15 and 24 years old, fell back to a record low of 16.9% from 17.7% in March.
2026-05-29