Italy’s youth unemployment rate falls to lowest level in five years

The overall unemployment rate was 11.5 percent in February, a slight decrease of 0.3 points from the previous month.

But among the 15-24 age group, which has been hardest hit by Italy's economic troubles, the unemployment rate fell by a more dramatic 1.7 points to reach 35.2 percent.

This is the lowest level in almost five years, according to national statistics agency Istat, which provides the monthly data.

However, the employment rate had overall remained stable for four months at 57.5 percent.

The reason for this apparent discrepancy is that an increase in 'inactive' people or those who are not actively job-seeking, for example because they are students. This increase was particularly noticeable among the youngest age group.

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni hailed the drop on Twitter, saying “commitment to reforms gets results. And it continues.”

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Photo: Itinerant Art Museum