In March, employment increased by 81 thousand units on February and by 804 thousand on March 2021. Istat notes this, underlining that the employment rate rises to 59.9% (+0.3 points) at the record level since the beginning of the historical series (2004). Comparing the first quarter of 2022 with the previous one, there is an increase in the level of employment equal to 0.6%, for a total of 133 thousand more employees. Employees are back above 23 million to 23,040,000. Compared to February, there are 103,000 more permanent employees.
In March 2022, explains the statistical body, the growth of employment continues and the number of employees returns to exceed 23 million. The increase observed compared to the beginning of the year, equal to almost 170 thousand employed, is mainly concentrated among employees. Compared to March 2021, the growth in the number of employees is equal to 800 thousand units, in more than half of the cases it concerns temporary employees, whose estimate reaches 3 million 150 thousand, the highest value since 1977. The rate of employment stands at 59.9% (record since the start of the historical series), unemployment at 8.3%, returning to 2010 levels, and the inactivity rate, at 34.5%, drops to pre-existing levels. Covid pandemic.
Growth driven by women
The sustained growth in employment in March (+ 81 thousand in February) is driven by women with 85 thousand more employed in the month and 442 thousand in March 2021 while men registered 4 thousand less employed in February and 362 thousand more in March 2021. ‘Istat. The body underlines that the female employment rate in the month rises to 51.2 with an increase of 0.5 points on February and 2.9 on March 2021. The employed women are 9 million 776 thousand.
Fixed seat boom
Temporary employees in March rose to 3,159,000, the highest level since 1977, the starting date of the historical series. Istat explaining that there is an increase of 19 thousand units compared to February and of 430 thousand units in March 2021. Permanent employees are 14.9 million with an increase of 103 thousand units in February and 312 thousand in March 2021. Self-employed workers a March decreased by 41 thousand units on February and increased by 62 thousand units on March 2022, settling at 4,977,000 units. Overall, employees rise to 18 million 63 thousand with an increase of 121 thousand units in February and 742 thousand in March 2021. Employees rise to 23 million 40 thousand with an increase of 81 thousand units in February and 804 thousand in March 2021.
Unemployment drops to 8.3% in March
The unemployment rate in March drops to 8.3% with a drop of 0.2 points on February and 1.8 points on March 2021, returning to 2010 levels. there were 2 million 74 thousand with a reduction of 48 thousand units in February and 412 thousand in March 2021.
Inactive people are decreasing
The number of inactive people aged between 15 and 64 decreased (-0.6%, equal to -72 thousand units) for men, women and for all age groups. The inactivity rate drops to 34.5% (-0.2 points).