The unemployment rate in Italy in August stood at 7,9%, marking a decrease of 0,1% compared to July and 0,4% on an annual basis. This is what emerges from the data released today by Istat.
In August, the number of employed people reached 23 million, showing an increase of 0,1% (26 units) compared to July and of 0,8% (191 units) on a trend scale. Overall, the employment rate is 57%, up by 0,1% in a quarterly comparison and by 0,3% on an annual basis. The number of unemployed is close to two million (1.965 thousand) and decreased by 1,8% (-36 thousand units) compared to July.
On a trend scale, the number of unemployed fell by 4% (-83 thousand units). Among the unemployed, one in two has been out of work for over a year. Indeed, in the second quarter of 2011, the incidence of long-term unemployed rose from 48,1% in the second quarter of 2010 to 52,9% of the total.
However, the growth in employment concerns only the male component. Between April and June 2011 the number of unemployed young women increased in the South: the unemployment rate for women aged between 15 and 24 reached 44%. This is the highest figure since the second quarter of 2004, when it was 45,2%. More generally, the trend in which youth unemployment continues to rise continued in August.
Last month's youth unemployment rate was 27,6%, with cyclical growth of 0,1 percentage points. In the second quarter, however, the unemployment rate of young people between 15 and 24 years of age fell from 27,9% in the second quarter of 2010 to 27,4% in the second quarter of 2011. It should also be noted that the inactive people between the ages of 15 and 64 show variations compared to July and therefore the inactivity rate remains stable at 38%.
