Istat: unemployment rate down to 5.7% in November, never so low

In November 2025, the unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 % (-0.1 points), the lowest level since the start of the time series in 2004. The youth unemployment rate drops to 18.8% (-0.8 points). This was announced by Istat, adding that the inactivity rate instead rose to 33.5%.

In November 2025, the number of employed persons, at 24 million 188 thousand, was down by 34 thousand (-0.1%) from the previous month. The employment rate dropped to 62.6% (-0.1 points). In the year-on-year comparison, the number of employed people exceeded that of November 2024 by 0.7% (+179 thousand), as the growth in permanent employees (+258 thousand) and the self-employed (+126 thousand) was partially offset by the decline in fixed-term employees (-204 thousand).

The month-on-month decrease in the number of employed persons recorded in November (-0.1%, equal to -34,000) involved women, temporary employees and self-employed, 15-24 year-olds and 35-49 year-olds; the number of employed persons increased for 25-34 year-olds and remained substantially stable among men, permanent employees and those aged 50 years and over. The year-on-year increase (+0.7%, equal to +179,000) concerns men, women, 25-34 year-olds and those aged 50 and over, in contrast to the decrease in the other age groups. Moreover, ISTAT again indicates that comparing the September-November 2025 quarter with the previous one (June-August), there was a growth in the number of employed persons (+0.3%, or +66 thousand).