Italy's jobless rate eased to 7.8% in April from an upwardly revised 7.9% the month before, data showed on Thursday, as some 48,000 jobs were created and youth unemployment fell, national statistics bureau ISTAT reported.

A Reuters survey of 11 analysts had forecast an April jobless rate of 7.8%.

March's rate was previously given as 7.8%.

In the three months to April the number of employed rose 123,000, or 0.5%, compared with the November-to-January period.

Compared with April 2022, the number of employed was up by 390,000, or 1.7% ISTAT said, adding that this was due to an increase in permanent employees and the number of self-employed, which offset a decrease in temporary employees.

In April, the youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, fell to 20.4% from 21.8% the month before, its lowest level since 2008.

Italy's overall employment rate, one of the lowest in the euro zone, was stable in April at 61.0%.

The Italian economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 0.6% in the first quarter from the previous three months, data showed on Wednesday, recovering after a 0.1% fall in gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of last year.

Rome recently raised its forecast for 2023 full-year GDP growth to 1.0% from 0.6% but cut next year’s forecast to 1.5% from a previous 1.9%.

 

ISTAT gave the following data:

APRIL MARCH FEB JAN JOBLESS RATE 7.8 7.9r 8.0r 8.0 YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (15-24) 20.4 21.8r 21.8r 22.0r EMPLOYMENT RATE (15-64) 61.0 61.0r 60.9r 60.8 r=revised (Reporting by Crispian Balmer)