Italy's unemployment rate was stable at 7.8% in December, data showed on Tuesday, while the number of people in work rose by 37,000 from the month before.

The 7.8% jobless rate matched the median forecast in a Reuters survey of analysts.

In the three months to December, employment was up by around 100,000, or 0.4% compared with the third quarter, national statistics bureau ISTAT reported.

Compared with December 2021, employment was up by 334,000 or 1.5%, it said.

In December, the youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, fell to 22.1% from 22.6% the month before, reaching its lowest level for almost 15 years.

Italy's overall employment rate, one of the lowest in the euro zone, edged up in December to 60.5% from 60.4%, registering its highest level since the current series began in 2004.

ISTAT gave the following data:

DEC NOV OCT SEPT JOBLESS RATE 7.8 7.8 7.9 7.9 YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (15-24) 22.1 22.6r 23.3r 23.7r EMPLOYMENT RATE (15-64) 60.5 60.4r 60.4 60.2 r=revised (Reporting by Gavin Jones)