Unemployment rises more in Italy in May than in other major eurozone economies

Brussels – Unemployment in the euro area rose in May. Compared to April, the jobless index rose by 0.1 per cent to 6.3 per cent. In releasing the data, Eurostat explained that the figure translates to 10.8 million men and women out of work, 54,000 more. The Eurozone figures confirm a general and generalised trend that also concerns the EU as a whole: the EU-27 saw an increase of 48 thousand people out of work in June.

Of the major eurozone economies, France recorded a reduction in unemployment in absolute terms in May (-23,000), Spain experienced a less marked but still positive slowdown in the national labour market (-5,000 compared to April), Germany recorded a slight increase (+2,000), while Italy saw an increase of 112,000 in the national jobless population.

A figure, the latter, which does not seem to reward the Meloni government, but which confirms a cyclical trend of continuous fluctuations. Compared to May 2024, and therefore to a year ago, Italy has 15,000 more unemployed, indicating a labour market that is incapable of attracting and permanently absorbing workers.

The employment situation does not look good for young people under 25 either. According to the European Statistical Institute, by May 2025, there were approximately 2.9 million unemployed young people. Of these, approximately 2.3 million are under 25 and unemployed, seeking paid work in the eurozone.

The numbers are on the rise (+13 thousand), as witnessed by the youth unemployment rate, which in May rose to 14.4 per cent in the euro area (compared to 14,3 per cent in April), while in the EU as a whole it reached 14.8 per cent (compared to 14.7 per cent in April).

Yet again, the Italian figure stands out for its upward trend: youth unemployment in Italy increases from 19.9 per cent to 21.6 per cent, resulting in a total of 303,000 under-25s dependent on their parents.

English version by the Translation Service of Withub