ROMA (ITALPRESS) – In February 2026, on a monthly basis, the fall in employment is associated with the growth of the unemployed and the substantial stability of the inactive. Istat notes this, underlining that the decrease in employment (-0.1%, equal to -29 thousand units) involves men, employees and 25-49 years; between women, self-employed, 15-24 years old and those with at least 50 years of age the number of employed is growing. The employment rate falls to 62.4% (-0.1 points). The growth of people seeking work (+2.7%, equal to +36 thousand units) is observed for men and women and for all age groups except for 15-24 years, among which the number is decreasing. The unemployment rate rose to 5.3% (+0.1 points), the youth rate fell to 17,6% (-1.0 points). The substantial stability of inactives between 15 and 64 years is a synthesis of an increase between men and 15-49 years and a decrease between women and among those who are at least 50 years old. The inactivity rate is stable at 33.9%.
Compared to the quarter of December 2025-February 2026 with the previous one (September-November 2025), growth in the number of employed (+0.1%, equal to +20 thousand units). Compared to the previous quarter, people looking for work decrease (-8.0%, equal to -119 thousand units) and increase the inactives of 15-64 years (+0.9%, equal to +117 thousand units). In February 2026, the number of employees exceeded that of February 2025 of 0.1% (+13 thousand units); the increase concerns women and those who are at least 50 years old, due to the decrease between men and other age groups. The employment rate is falling compared to one year before (-0.2 points). Compared to February 2025, the number of people seeking work decreases (-14.1%, equal to -223 thousand units) and that of the inactive between 15 and 64 years (+2.1%, equal to +259 thousand units).
“In February 2026 – it is the comment of Istat – the number of employees, equal to 24 million 149 thousand, is decreasing compared to the previous month. The decrease involves employees, both permanent (16 million 430 thousand) and in term (2 million 432 thousand), while the self-employed (5 million 287 thousand) are growing. The employment increased compared to February 2025 (+13 thousand employed in one year) due to the growth of permanent employees (+52 thousand) and the self-employed (+187 thousand), in the face of the decline of term employees (-226 thousand). On a monthly basis the employment rate falls to 62.4%, that of unemployment rises to 5.3% and the inactivity rate is stable to 33.9%”.
– Istat press office photos –
(ITALPRESS).
