The employment rate of 62.7% recorded in October is the highest level since the beginning of the Istat historical series, which began in January 2004. This is what emerges from the Institute’s monthly data, in light of the latest revisions. The number of employed stands at 24 million 208 thousand.
In October 2025, on a monthly basis, the growth of the employed is associated with the decline in the unemployed and the substantial stability of the inactive. This was revealed by Istat. The increase in employed people (+0.3%, equal to +75 thousand units) involves men, women, employees, the self-employed and all age groups with the exception of 25-34 year olds who are decreasing. In October 2025, the number of employed exceeds that of October 2024 by 0.9% (+224 thousand units); the increase concerns men, women and those aged at least 50, compared to the decrease in the other age groups.
«In October 2025 – comments Istat – the number of employed people, equal to 24 million 208 thousand, is growing compared to the previous month. The increase involves both employees – permanent (16 million 468 thousand) and fixed-term (2 million 514 thousand) – and the self-employed (5 million 227 thousand). Employment also increases compared to October 2024 (+224 thousand employed in one year), a synthesis of the growth in permanent employees (+288 thousand) and self-employed workers (+123 thousand) and the decline in fixed-term employees (-188 thousand). On a monthly basis, the employment rate rises to 62.7%, the unemployment rate drops to 6.0% and the inactivity rate is stable at 33.2%”. The decrease in people looking for work (-3.7%, equal to -59 thousand units) concerns men, women and all age groups.
The substantial stability of inactive people between 15 and 64 years old, which affects both genders, is a synthesis of the growth among 15-34 year olds and the decrease among those at least 35 years of age. The inactivity rate is unchanged at 33.2%. Comparing the August-October 2025 quarter with the previous one (May-July) there is substantial stability in the number of employed.
Compared to the previous quarter, the number of people looking for work decreased (-4.4%, equal to -71 thousand units) and the number of inactive people aged 15-64 increased (+0.5%, equal to +61 thousand units).
Compared to October 2024, both the number of people looking for work (-2.2%, equal to -34 thousand units) and the number of inactive people between 15 and 64 years old (-1.4%, equal to -171 thousand units) fell.