ROME, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Italy's unemployment rate was stable at 7.9% in September after an upward revision of August's figure but 46,000 jobs were created during the month, data showed on Thursday.

A Reuters survey of 10 analysts had forecast a September jobless rate of 7.8%, which was the level previously reported for August.

Despite the slightly higher than expected jobless rate, new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be encouraged to see more Italians joining the labour market in September and the net increase in employment after two consecutive monthly declines.

In the three months to September, employment in the euro zone's third largest economy was down by 22,000, or 0.1%, compared with the April-to-June period, ISTAT said.

Compared with September 2021, employment was up by 316,000, or 1.4%, it said.

In September the youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, rose to 23.7% from 22.1% the month before.

Italy's overall employment rate, one of the lowest in the euro zone, edged up in September to 60.2% from 60.0% in August.

The country's economic prospects have dimmed due to the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 0.5% in the third quarter from the previous three months, preliminary data showed on Monday, but is now slowing down sharply as firms and households grapple with surging energy costs.

Most analysts, as well as the Italian treasury, expect gross domestic product to decline in the fourth quarter.

ISTAT gave the following data:

SEPT AUG JULY JUNE

JOBLESS RATE 7.9 7.9r 8.0r 8.0 YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (15-24) 23.7 22.1r 23.8r 23.3r EMPLOYMENT RATE (15-64) 60.2 60.0 60.2 60.3 r=revised