In 2015, employed people in the euro area increased by 1,4 million, marking only a partial recovery of the pre-crisis employment level. Compared to 2008, the number of employed persons is approximately 3,2 million less. In Italy the employment rate in 2015 reached 56,3%, up from 55,7% the previous year.
During the crisis, the labor market in Italy presented different dynamics at both a territorial and sectoral level. Observing the variations between 2008 and 2015, at a territorial level it is evident that the South was the most affected area in terms of employment contraction. Against a drop in employment equal to 626 units nationwide, 62 were lost in the South
jobs, with a contraction of employment equal to 7,5%. The North recorded a reduction of 232 thousand units, with a much lower percentage incidence (1,9%) while in the central regions employment increased by 88 thousand units (+1,8%).
Among the sectors of economic activity, the 626 job losses compared to before the crisis derive from a negative balance of 905 recorded in industry, from a positive balance of 291 in services, while agriculture lost about 11 jobs with a slight contraction greater than 1%. Of the 186 new jobs in 2015, over 90 percent can be attributed to the service sector, the only one to record an amount of jobs higher than the pre-crisis one.
During the crisis, employment presented differentiated dynamics also according to the age range, the type of contract and the level of education of the workers. In the period 2008-2015, against a reduction in employment equal to almost two million units for the 15-34 year-old class, a much less accentuated contraction was recorded for the 35-49 year-old class (-500 thousand units ) and an increase of 1,8 million for the over 50s. Among the various contractual categories, part-time work was the only one to grow steadily even during the crisis. Compared to 2008, permanent workers with a part-time job increased by 687 units (26,8 percent).
Between 2008 and 2015, in the face of a generalized decline in the employment rate, the difficulties were less for those with higher educational qualifications. Not only in absolute terms is the employment rate higher with a higher education qualification, but also in relative terms, the negative changes recorded during the crisis were more contained. In 2015, in the labor market recovery phase, while increasing for all levels of education, the employment rate grew more strongly for graduates.
