Istat: in the second quarter +226 thousand employed over the year

In the second quarter of 2025, the labour input used overall by the economic system (expressed by National Accounts hours worked) increased by 0.2% in cyclical terms and by 1.7% in trend terms. This was announced by Istat, pointing out that the number of employed persons, as estimated by the Labour Force Survey net of seasonal effects, remains substantially unchanged compared to the previous quarter, at 24 million 169 thousand. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, there was an increase of 226 thousand employed (+0.9%). The employment rate between the ages of 15 and 64 stands at 62.6 per cent.

The number of employed people, estimated by the Labour Force Survey net of seasonal effects, ISTAT explains, remains substantially unchanged compared to the previous quarter, standing at 24,169,000; the decrease in permanent employees (-21,000, -0.1%) and fixed-term employees (-45,000, -1.7%) is almost offset by the increase in the number of self-employed (+74,000, +1.4%). The employment rate, stable at 62.6%, increased for women, among the 50-64 age group and in the southern regions, while it fell for men, the under-50s and in the north, remaining unchanged in the centre. Unemployment and inactivity rates also remain stable compared to Q1 2025, at 6.3% and 33.0% respectively. On the basis of the non-seasonally adjusted data in Q2 2025 - although halved compared to the previous quarter - the trend growth in the number of employed persons continued (+226 thousand, +0.9% in one year), with an estimated 24 million 202 thousand. The employment rate of people aged between 15 and 64 reached 62.7% (+0.4 points compared to the second quarter of 2024), with a more pronounced increase among people aged 50-64 and in the South. The growth in employment involves permanent employees (+296 thousand, +1.9% in one year) and the self-employed (+150 thousand, +3.0%), while the reduction in fixed-term employees continues for the eleventh consecutive quarter (-221 thousand, -7.7%); the increase in full-time employees (+476 thousand, +2.4%) more than compensates for the further drop in part-time employees (-250 thousand, -6.1%).

The unemployment rate in the second quarter was stable compared to the first quarter at 6.3 per cent, while it decreased by 0.1 points compared to the second quarter of 2024. This was noted by Istat, pointing out that the unemployed numbered 1,623,000, down 9,000 year-on-year. The drop in the number of inactive persons between the ages of 15 and 64 continued, with 150 thousand fewer in one year to 12 million 294 thousand. The inactivity rate among 15-64 year olds is at 33%, stable on the previous quarter and down 0.4 points on the second quarter of 2024.