New record for unemployment in Italy. The jobless rate rose to 10,2% in April, the highest level since at least the start of monthly time series calculations in 2004. This was announced by Istat, specifying that the number of unemployed, equal to 2,615 million people, increased by 1,5% (+38 thousand) compared to March and by 31,1% (+621 thousand) on an annual basis.
For young people, a slight sign of economic improvement. In April the number of unemployed among boys between 15 and 24 years stood at 35,2%, down 0,8 percentage points from March but up 7,9 points year on year.
The employment rate remains stable at 57%. The number of employed people, equal to 22,953 million people, decreased by 28 thousand units compared to March due to a decrease in the male component. The inactive, down 0,1% from March. The inactivity rate is confirmed at 36,6%.
'In the first quarter of 2012, the number of employed persons recorded a tendential decline of 0,4% (-81.000 units), summing up the decline in male employment (-1,2%, equal to -168.000 units) and the new increase of the female one (+0,9%, equal to 87.000 units).
At the regional level, unemployment affects the whole peninsula. In the North the number of unemployed grew by 0,3% (-32 thousand units) and in the South by 0,2% (-15 thousand units) but only involves the male component; in the Centre, where the drop is larger (-0,7%, equal to -34 thousand units), instead it affects both gender components.
“For the second consecutive quarter” concludes the note from Istat, “a significant reduction in Italian employment emerges (-155.000 units, compared to the same period a year earlier), exclusively due to the reduction in the male component. Although less intense than in the recent past, the increase in foreign employment continues (+36 men and +38 women)”.
