Italy: jobs and pay

What share of Italians are in work?

63.0% of people aged 15 to 64 in Italy were employed in August 2026, according to Istat's provisional employment release of 1 October 2026. The rate was 71.6% for men and 54.3% for women. Employment was 291,000 higher than a year earlier.

The figures are seasonally adjusted monthly estimates from the labour force survey and are revised. The inactivity rate, people neither working nor looking for work, was 32.7%.

Official sources: Istat: employment and unemployment, August 2026 (PDF)

What is the youth unemployment rate in Italy?

Italy's youth unemployment rate was 20.3% in August 2026, up 0.6 points from July, according to Istat's provisional employment release of 1 October 2026. The overall unemployment rate rose to 6.2%.

The youth rate covers people aged 15 to 24 who are in the labour force, meaning working or looking for work. Many people that age are studying and are not counted, so the rate does not mean a fifth of all young people are unemployed. Monthly figures are provisional and can move sharply.

Official sources: Istat: employment and unemployment, August 2026 (PDF)

How fast are wages rising in Italy?

Hourly wages set by national collective agreements were 2.4% higher in June 2026 than a year earlier, according to Istat's contractual wages release of 29 July 2026. The index stood at 113.0, with December 2021 = 100.

The index tracks pay rates written into collective agreements, not what workers actually earn, which also includes overtime and bonuses. At the end of April 2026, agreements in force covered 69.9% of employees; the rest were awaiting renewal. Compare the rise with consumer inflation to judge purchasing power.

Official sources: Istat: contractual wages and salaries, April–June 2026 (PDF)

Are permanent jobs growing in Italy?

Italy had 24.36 million people in work in the second quarter of 2026, according to Istat's labour market report of 11 September 2026. Compared with a year earlier, permanent employees rose 1.0% and the self-employed 2.4%, while fixed-term employees fell 1.2%.

The quarterly report combines the labour force survey with data from businesses. Part-time jobs made up 28.9% of all jobs, unchanged. The job vacancy rate was 1.5%.

Official sources: Istat: labour market, Q2 2026 (PDF)

How many Italian workers are at risk of poverty?

10.2% of workers in Italy were at risk of in-work poverty, according to Istat's living conditions and household income report of 2 April 2026. The share was 25.9% among foreign citizens.

A worker is at risk of poverty when their household's equivalised disposable income is below 60% of the national median, so the measure depends on household size and other earners as well as on pay. The figures come from the EU-SILC survey; income refers to the year before the interview.

Official sources: Istat: living conditions and household income 2024–2025 (PDF)

What is the average monthly salary in Italy?

The ILO puts average monthly earnings of employees in Italy at $3,994 a month in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2012. Europe & Central Asia median: $3,252 a month; Italy is 13th highest of 32. World rank, highest first: 15th of 57.

What is the unemployment rate in Italy?

The ILO puts the unemployment rate in Italy at 6.4% in 2025. The peak was 12.7% in 2014 and the low 6.1% in 2007. Europe & Central Asia median: 5.5%; Italy is 18th highest of 47. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 63rd highest.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Italy?

The ILO puts unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Italy at 20.5% in 2025. The peak was 42.7% in 2014 and the low 20.2% in 2024. Europe & Central Asia median: 14.2%; Italy is 14th highest of 47. Worldwide: 42nd of 174.

How many people in Italy are working or looking for work?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate in Italy at 49.3% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at 49.8%; its low point was 2011, at 47.9%. It is 44th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 60.3%. World rank, highest first: 152nd of 174.

What share of women in Italy are in the labour force?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate for women in Italy at 40.8% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 37.7% (2007) to 41.3% (2023). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 54.6%, and Italy placed 43rd highest of 47. Worldwide: 140th of 174.

How many people in Italy are employed?

The ILO puts the employment to population ratio in Italy at 46.2% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 42.6% (2014) to 46.4% (2024). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 56.6%, and Italy placed 43rd highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 149th of 174.

How many workers in Italy are self-employed or family workers?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Italy was 14.3% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been lower. Europe & Central Asia median: 11.0%; Italy is 16th highest of 47. Worldwide: 126th of 174.

What share of workers in Italy earn a wage or salary?

In 2025, the share of workers who are paid employees in Italy was 78.9%, according to the ILO. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 85.5%, and Italy placed 33rd highest of 47. Worldwide: 54th of 174.