State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Economy, jobs and prices in Molise, Italy: official figures

GDP per person was 29,000 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 73% of the EU average; 16th highest of 21 regions in Italy. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.

GDP per person (PPS)
29,000
2024
GDP per person (euros)
27,700
2024
GDP (million euros)
7,987
2024
Unemployment rate
6.2%
2025
Youth unemployment rate
39.8%
2024
Employment rate (20-64)
62.3%
2025
R&D spending (% of GDP)
0.73%
2024
Workers in irregular (undeclared) jobs (%)
12.4%
2022

How big is the economy of Molise?

The regional economy produced €8.0 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 0.4% of Italy's GDP.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Molise?

The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 6.2% in 2025, against 6.1% for Italy and 6.0% across the EU; 7th highest of 21 regions in Italy.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

What is youth unemployment in Molise?

Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 39.8% in 2024, against 20.3% for Italy; 2nd highest of 19 regions in Italy.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

What share of adults in Molise are in work?

The employment rate (age 20 to 64) was 62.3% in 2025, against 67.6% for Italy and 76.1% across the EU; 15th highest of 21 regions in Italy.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How much does Molise spend on research and development?

Spending on research and development came to 0.73% of GDP in 2024 (1.41% nationally).

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How much undeclared work is there in Molise?

Istat estimates that 12.4% of people in work in Molise were in irregular, undeclared jobs in 2022 (Italy 9.7%): 5th highest of 21 regions and autonomous provinces.

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

How many workers in Molise are low paid?

9.4% of employees in Molise earned less than two-thirds of the median hourly wage in 2020 (Italy 10.1%), 10th highest of 21 regions and autonomous provinces, down from 13.7% in 2015.

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

What is the real unemployment rate in Molise?

The labour non-participation rate, which adds people available to work but not searching to the unemployed, was 15.5% in Molise in 2025 (Italy 12.6%), 7th highest of 21 regions and autonomous provinces, down from 25.4% in 2020.

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

Are young graduates leaving Molise?

Molise had a net migration rate of -40.9 per 1,000 resident Italian graduates aged 25 to 39 in 2023 (Italy -6.2), counting moves to and from other regions and abroad: 3rd worst of 21 regions and autonomous provinces.

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

How many part-time workers in Molise want a full-time job?

10.4% of people in work in Molise were in part-time jobs because they could not find full-time work in 2025 (Italy 7.7%), 3rd highest of 21 regions and autonomous provinces, down from 13.2% in 2020.

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

How many workers in Molise are stuck on temporary contracts?

17.3% of people on temporary contracts in Molise had been in fixed-term work for at least five years in 2025 (Italy 21.3%), down from 27.5% in 2020.

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

Are graduates in Molise overqualified for their jobs?

27.8% of employed graduates aged 25 to 64 in Molise held jobs that did not need a degree in 2025 (Italy 20.9%), up from 20.0% in 2020.

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

How dangerous is work in Molise?

Workplace accidents causing death or permanent disability ran at 13.8 per 10,000 people in work in Molise in 2022 (Italy 11.0).

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

How many high-skilled jobs are there in Molise?

Knowledge workers, graduates in scientific and technical occupations, made up 17.9% of employment in Molise in 2025 (Italy 19.2%), up from 16.8% in 2020.

Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

How many people in Molise are long-term unemployed?

Long-term unemployment (people out of work for a year or more) stood at 4.3% of the labour force in 2025, compared with 3.1% nationally and 1.9% in the EU; 5th highest of 18 regions in Italy. In 2015 it was 9.9%.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate for women in Molise?

The unemployment rate for women in Molise was 6.8% in 2025, compared with 6.8% nationally and 6.2% in the EU; 8th highest of 20 regions in Italy. In 2015 it was 14.8%.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How many women in Molise are in work?

The employment rate for women aged 20 to 64 reached 50.7% in 2025, compared with 58.0% nationally and 71.3% in the EU; 6th lowest of 21 regions in Italy. In 2015 it was 42.5%.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Is the economy of Molise growing?

Output (gross value added, after inflation) changed by -1.2% in 2024, compared with 0.7% nationally; the lowest of 21 regions in Italy. In 2014 it was -1.1%.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How many cars are there in Molise?

There were 767 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2024, compared with 701 nationally; 4th highest of 21 regions in Italy. In 2014 it was 651.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

What is the average salary in Molise?

Average compensation per employee (pay plus employer social contributions) was €22,370 in 2023, against €25,343 across Italy; 7th lowest of 21 regions in Italy.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How many tourists visit Molise?

Visitors spent 474,764 nights in tourist accommodation in 2025, 11% of them by visitors from abroad.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

What is the main industry in Molise?

The largest part of the economy of Molise in 2024 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 26.6% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (25.2%).

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How industrial is Molise?

Factories, mines and energy produced 14.6% of the value added in Molise in 2024, against 19.0% for Italy.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How fast is the economy of Molise growing?

Gross value added rose from €5.6 billion in 2015 to €7.1 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 28% before inflation.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

What jobs do people do in Molise?

Of the 110,200 jobs located in Molise in 2024, 31% in public services, education, health and other services, 13% in industry and 8.0% in farming, forestry and fishing.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Are jobs growing in Molise?

The number of people working in Molise rose by 5.6% between 2015 and 2024, to 110,200.

Source: Eurostat · saved copy

How Molise compares with other regions

Workers in irregular (undeclared) jobs (%) (2022)

Molise ranks 5 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionWorkers in irregular (undeclared) jobs (%)
2Campania14.2%
3Sicily13.7%
4Apulia12.6%
5Molise12.4%
6Basilicata12.0%
7Lazio11.8%
8Sardinia11.4%
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

Employees with low hourly pay (%) (2020)

Molise ranks 10 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionEmployees with low hourly pay (%)
7Abruzzo10.8%
8Sardinia10.7%
9Umbria9.5%
10Molise9.4%
11Piedmont9.2%
12Tuscany9.1%
13Liguria8.9%
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

Labour non-participation rate, 15-74 (%) (2025)

Molise ranks 7 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionLabour non-participation rate, 15-74 (%)
4Apulia21.5%
5Basilicata18.1%
6Sardinia18.0%
7Molise15.5%
8Abruzzo12.0%
9Lazio10.7%
10Marche9.3%
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

Net migration of Italian graduates aged 25-39 (per 1,000 graduates) (2023)

Molise ranks 19 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionNet migration of Italian graduates aged 25-39 (per 1,000 graduates)
15Abruzzo-18.3
16Campania-29.7
17Apulia-33.2
18Sicily-34.5
19Molise-40.9
20Calabria-43.1
21Basilicata-50.2
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

Involuntary part-time workers (%) (2025)

Molise ranks 3 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionInvoluntary part-time workers (%)
1Sardinia12.4%
2Sicily11.5%
3Molise10.4%
4Basilicata9.9%
5Calabria9.4%
6Tuscany9.0%
7Campania8.8%
Source: Istat (Italian National Institute of Statistics) · saved copy

Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2025)

Molise ranks 5 of 18, highest first.

RankRegionLong-term unemployment (% of labour force)
2Sicily7.6%
3Apulia6.1%
4Calabria5.4%
5Molise4.3%
6Sardinia3.9%
7Abruzzo3.3%
8Lazio2.9%
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Unemployment rate, women (2025)

Molise ranks 8 of 20, highest first.

RankRegionUnemployment rate, women
5Sardinia9.0%
6Abruzzo7.1%
7Piedmont6.8%
8Molise6.8%
9Basilicata6.0%
10Lazio5.9%
11Umbria5.7%
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)

Molise ranks 16 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionEmployment rate, women aged 20-64
13Lazio60.5%
14Abruzzo56.6%
15Sardinia54.7%
16Molise50.7%
17Basilicata49.0%
18Apulia40.9%
19Calabria37.7%
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Real growth in gross value added (2024)

Molise ranks 21 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionReal growth in gross value added
15Veneto-0.1%
16Marche-0.1%
17Apulia-0.2%
18Calabria-0.7%
19Liguria-1.1%
20Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen-1.1%
21Molise-1.2%
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)

Molise ranks 4 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionPassenger cars per 1,000 people
1Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste1,936
2Provincia Autonoma di Trento1,610
3Umbria774
4Molise767
5Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen763
6Calabria750
7Tuscany744
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)

Molise ranks 15 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionCompensation per employee (euros)
12Umbria€23,251
13Marche€23,132
14Abruzzo€22,582
15Molise€22,370
16Sardinia€22,123
17Basilicata€21,966
18Sicily€21,837
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)

Molise ranks 21 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionNights spent in tourist accommodation
15Friuli-Venezia Giulia11.0 million
16Calabria9.3 million
17Abruzzo8.7 million
18Umbria7.9 million
19Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste4.5 million
20Basilicata2.8 million
21Molise474,764
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)

Molise ranks 13 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionShare of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy)
10Umbria19.3%
11Provincia Autonoma di Trento16.7%
12Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen15.0%
13Molise14.6%
14Liguria14.5%
15Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste13.0%
16Campania12.8%
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)

Molise ranks 18 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionShare of output from finance, property and business services
15Sardinia25.9%
16Marche25.8%
17Campania25.6%
18Molise25.2%
19Calabria25.0%
20Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen23.7%
21Basilicata21.0%
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)

Molise ranks 5 of 21, highest first.

RankRegionShare of output from public administration, education, health and other services
2Calabria29.5%
3Sardinia28.7%
4Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste27.0%
5Molise26.6%
6Apulia25.7%
7Lazio24.1%
8Campania23.9%
Source: Eurostat · saved copy

More on Molise: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Italy

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.