In Italy, almost 30 percent of people under the age of 24 are unemployed

Unemployment in Italy unexpectedly rose at the end of last year after falling in November. Markets expected to remain at the November level. According to the Italian statistical office, the unemployment rate in Italy reached 9 percent in December, compared with 8.8 percent in November. Analysts also counted on staying at the November level. In December, the number of unemployed rose by 34,000, while the number of jobs declined by 101,000. The number of people employed in Italy is still more than 420,000 below the amount reported in February, the month before the coronavirus pandemic hit the region, and the first locking measure came into effect. Since then, the number of unemployed people has decreased by almost 150,000, while the number of retired people—people who do not work and are not constantly searching for a job— has increased by more than 400,000. Unemployment in the youth category also increased, approaching a 30 percent level. While the unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 reached 29.4 percent in November, it stood at 29.7 percent in December. At the same time, the employment rate fell. In the last month of last year, it reached 58 percent, in November it was 58.2 percent.