Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Italy

Italy: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 17.8% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
17.8%
Change on year
down 28.5%
World rank
42nd
of 44 countries
All-time high
37.9%
in 1998
All-time low
17.8%
in 2020
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Italy, 1998–2020

0102030401998200920201998: 37.9 Percentage1999: 32.1 Percentage2000: 29.7 Percentage2001: 24.7 Percentage2002: 24.7 Percentage2003: 22.1 Percentage2004: 32.2 Percentage2005: 28.8 Percentage2006: 27.3 Percentage2007: 25.8 Percentage2008: 28.1 Percentage2009: 29.5 Percentage2010: 31.5 Percentage2011: 33.2 Percentage2012: 34.5 Percentage2013: 31.8 Percentage2014: 28.6 Percentage2015: 27.3 Percentage2016: 26.3 Percentage2017: 27.6 Percentage2018: 23.2 Percentage2019: 24.9 Percentage2020: 17.8 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Italy is 17.8%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 28.5% on the previous year and down 43.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Italy peaked at 37.9% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 17.8%, in 2020.

Italy ranks 42nd of 44 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Italy, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data in Italy, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 37.9%
1999 32.1% -15.3%
2000 29.7% -7.5%
2001 24.7% -16.8%
2002 24.7% +0.0%
2003 22.1% -10.5%
2004 32.2% +45.7%
2005 28.8% -10.6%
2006 27.3% -5.2%
2007 25.8% -5.5%
2008 28.1% +8.9%
2009 29.5% +5.0%
2010 31.5% +6.8%
2011 33.2% +5.4%
2012 34.5% +3.9%
2013 31.8% -7.8%
2014 28.6% -10.1%
2015 27.3% -4.5%
2016 26.3% -3.7%
2017 27.6% +4.9%
2018 23.2% -15.9%
2019 24.9% +7.3%
2020 17.8% -28.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 35.0% 32.1% 37.9% 2
2000s 27.3% 22.1% 32.2% 10
2010s 28.9% 23.2% 34.5% 10
2020s 17.8% 17.8% 17.8% 1

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 39 Portugal 28.6% compare
  2. 40 Spain 23.3% compare
  3. 41 Romania 21.9% compare
  4. 43 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 11.1% compare
  5. 43 United Kingdom 11.1% compare

See the full ranking of 46 places →

More work & labour data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Italy?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Italy was 17.8% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 37.9% in 1998.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 17.8% in 2020.
How does Italy rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Italy ranks 42nd out of 44 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is down 43.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Italy data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
46 places, 991 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed