Italy, in April down unemployment, increase employment – Reuters Italy

ROME, June 3 (Reuters) – – First positive signals from the Italian labor market, which in the period from February to April sees marginally increase the employment rate, while reducing both the rate of unemployment is one of inactivity, addition to the initiation of the slight recovery expected this year.

According to data announced this morning by Istat, between February and April, the employment rate rose to 56.1%, an increase of 0.4% on a monthly basis and 0.1% on a quarterly basis.

With the increase recorded in April (+159,000 units) employed share rose to 22.420000000, returning to the levels of late 2012. The increase highlights Istat, also affected young people aged 15-24 are employed 946,000, up 5.7% compared to March (+51,000).

In the same month also down to 12.4%, the unemployment rate , down 0.2% compared to March (revised to 12.6% from 13%) and 0.1% from the previous quarter.

And this with an increase in the pool of those job seekers: the inactivity rate was down by 0.1% qoq and 0, 3% on quarter to 35.8%.

A dynamic better than expected, said in a statement Raj Badiani, economist of IHS, “with a sharp rising employment, which canceled the effect of the labor force, pushing down the unemployment rate.”

In a positive, “without ambiguity”, also speaks Paolo Pizzoli economist Ing: “It seems that the forces fielded by the conjunction of the three-year decontribution on recruitment and the new rules of the labor market are beginning to show their positive effects.”

On Twitter Matteo Renzi to quick to point out how the numbers comforting Istat concern the first month of full operation of the Jobs Act, hce introduced the new contract to increasing protections, reducing the costs of dismissal for business.

More prudent Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti, who while acknowledging the positive data today, feels like the challenge is to observe a stabilization trend. “It ‘a good sign but it is a matter that concerns a month.” More …