The unemployment rate in Italy edged down to 5.1% in April 2026 from 5.2% in March, below market expectations of 5.3%. This marked the lowest level since the current data series began in 2004, as the number of unemployed individuals fell by 18 thousand month-on-month to 1.31 million, with declines recorded among both men and women and across all age groups except those aged 35–49. The employment rate rose to 63.1% from 62.7% in each of the previous three months, with the number of employed persons rising by 123 thousand to a record 24.34 million. Despite the increase, the country's employment rate remained among the lowest in the euro zone. The inactivity rate decreased to 33.4%, the lowest in six months, from 33.7% a month ago. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate, measuring jobseekers between 15 and 24 years old, fell back to a record low of 16.9% from 17.7% in March.