Italy is among the European Union countries with the highest number of unemployed inhabitants. The Italian unemployment rate is 8.2 percent. This figure has been decreasing steadily, registering the lowest rate of the last decade in 2022. A look at more specific
shows that the youngest population represents the most affected group, whereas people aged up to 64 years made up the lowest share of unemployed individuals. However, according to a
, the unemployment rate is expected to increase slightly in the following year.
Regional data
Unemployment in Italy is characterized by relevant
regional disparities. All eight southern regions have the highest unemployment rates in the country. In particular, in Campania and Sicily the rates over 15 percent each. On the other hand, northern regions perform better in terms of employment. Trentino-South Tyrol records a share of around three percent, the lowest in the country. In fact, the unemployment rates in Trentino-South Tyrol as well as in further north Italian regions are much lower than the
European Union average, whereas the rates in the southern regions are significantly higher than EU figures.
Youth unemployment
Data on the employment situation of young people reveal a discouraging trend. The
youth unemployment rate in Italy is also the third highest in the European Union. Even if the figures have been decreasing in the last years, roughly 21 percent of
young Italians are unemployed. Also in this case, southern regions hold a negative record. In Sicily, Calabria, and Campania the
youth unemployment rates range from 34 percent to 43 percent. Similarly to the general unemployment rates, Trentino-South Tyrol shows the best conditions in the country. Unemployment affects mostly young people
with a low education. Nevertheless, a high share of unemployed Italians hold a university degree.
Unemployment continues to be higher among women
Eventually, important disparities in employment figures can be observed in data broken down by gender. The
unemployment rate among women in Italy is slightly over two percentage points higher than among men. Additionally, the share of females who are
economically inactive is very high: 42 percent of Italian women do not take part in the Italian labor market, neither as employed nor as unemployed. Also, the percentage of young people who
neither work nor study is higher among females than among males. Once again, the southern regions show the highest shares. For instance, in Sicily, 34 percent of women do not study or work.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
