From Istat comes data on the labor market that seem contradictory, but they are not. According to preliminary estimates by the statistical institute, the unemployment rate rose to 11,3% in July from 11,1% in June. The figure relating to young people aged between 18 and 24 increased to 35,5% (+0,3%). At the same time, the number of employed people grew by 59 units per month and by 294 per year, returning for the first time since 2008 to above 23 million.
The apparent contradiction is explained by the sharp drop in inactive people, people who don't have a job and aren't looking for one (-115 thousand, -0,9%). This variation means that on the Italian labor market there has been an increase in people who, despite not having a job, have started looking for one. It is precisely they who have raised the unemployment rate, i.e. the share of people who are looking for a job but cannot find it.
As regards the employed, on a monthly basis, employees increased by 42 (23 permanent and 19 on temporary contracts) and the self-employed by 17. On the other hand, in the annual comparison, the growth affects men and women and concerns employees (+378 thousand, of which +286 thousand on temporary contracts and +92 thousand on permanent contracts), while the self-employed are down (-84 thousand).
