Italy's unemployment rate fell to 7.5% in November last year from 7.7% the month before, data showed on Tuesday, as some 30,000 jobs were created in the month.

In the three months to November, employment was up by 130,000, or 0.6%, compared with the June-to-August period, national statistics bureau ISTAT reported.

In November the number of employed people was up by 520,000, or 2.2% compared with November 2022, ISTAT said.

The youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, fell to 21.0% in November from 23.6% the month before, registering the lowest level since April 2008.

The positive jobs data is in contrast to Italy's stuttering economy, which grew by a marginal 0.1% in the third quarter of last year from the previous three months after contracting by 0.4% between April and June.

ISTAT said on Nov. 10 that the country's near-term economic outlook remained weak.

Italy's overall employment rate, one of the lowest in the euro zone, was stable in November at 61.8%.

 

ISTAT gave the following jobs data for November and previous months:

 

NOV OCT SEPT AUG JOBLESS RATE 7.5 7.7r 7.6 7.5 YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (15-24) 21.0 23.6r 22.0r 22.8r EMPLOYMENT RATE (15-64) 61.8 61.8 61.7 61.5 r=revised