LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Italy

Italy: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 13.46 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
13.46
Change on year
down 10.1%
World rank
23rd
of 89 countries
All-time high
22.91
in 2014
All-time low
12.92
in 2003
Years of data
23
2002–2024

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Italy, 2002–2024

05101520252002201320242002: 13.42003: 12.92004: 15.42005: 15.42006: 14.62007: 152008: 15.82009: 16.62010: 17.72011: 182012: 20.12013: 21.72014: 22.92015: 22.52016: 21.62017: 20.62018: 19.62019: 18.82020: 192021: 192022: 16.32023: 152024: 13.5

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Italy is 13.46, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 10.1% on the previous year and down 41.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Italy peaked at 22.91 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 12.92, in 2003.

Italy ranks 23rd of 89 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Italy, year by year

Annual values for LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Italy, 2002 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2002 13.4
2003 12.92 -3.6%
2004 15.37 +19.0%
2005 15.37 +0.1%
2006 14.64 -4.8%
2007 15.01 +2.6%
2008 15.78 +5.1%
2009 16.62 +5.4%
2010 17.65 +6.2%
2011 17.98 +1.8%
2012 20.06 +11.6%
2013 21.72 +8.3%
2014 22.91 +5.5%
2015 22.49 -1.8%
2016 21.64 -3.8%
2017 20.56 -5.0%
2018 19.64 -4.5%
2019 18.84 -4.1%
2020 19.02 +1.0%
2021 18.96 -0.4%
2022 16.28 -14.1%
2023 14.96 -8.1%
2024 13.46 -10.1%

Italy compared with similar countries

  • Italy's 13.46 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.45, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • Italy's 13.46 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.71, 1.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 14.89 12.92 16.62 8
2010s 20.35 17.65 22.91 10
2020s 16.54 13.46 19.02 5

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 20 Sweden 13.62 compare
  2. 21 Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.59 compare
  3. 22 Spain 13.54 compare
  4. 24 Finland 12.87 compare
  5. 25 Saudi Arabia 11.61 compare
  6. 26 Luxembourg 11.47 compare

See the full ranking of 89 places →

More work & labour data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Italy?
Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Italy was 13.46 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 22.91 in 2014.
What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 12.92 in 2003.
How does Italy rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
Italy ranks 23rd out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is down 41.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Italy data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu3-combined-rate-of-unemployment-and-potential-labour-force-previous-ilo-definition/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
89 places, 1,503 data points, 1987–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.