Job Creation and Sector Contributions
The reduction in unemployment can be attributed to the addition of 249,000 paid jobs, alongside a decrease of 55,000 unpaid positions. The services sector was the most significant contributor, generating 123,000 new jobs, followed by construction and public works (BTP) with 64,000 jobs, and the industrial sector with 46,000 jobs.
Conversely, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors experienced a decline, losing 41,000 jobs during the same period.
National Unemployment Figures
The overall unemployment volume decreased by 17,000 individuals, with urban areas accounting for 9,000 of this reduction and rural areas contributing 8,000. Consequently, the national unemployment figure now stands at 1,621,000.
This shift has led to a national unemployment rate decline from 13.3% to 13%, while urban unemployment decreased from 16.9% to 16.4%, and rural unemployment fell from 6.8% to 6.6%.
Challenges Among Specific Demographics
Despite the overall improvement, unemployment remains disproportionately high among certain groups. The rate for young individuals aged 15 to 24 increased from 36.7% to 37.2%. Similarly, the unemployment rate for graduates decreased slightly from 19.6% to 19.1%, while the rate for women rose from 19.4% to 20.5%.
Underemployment Trends
During the same timeframe, the number of underemployed individuals increased from 1,082,000 to 1,190,000 nationally. In urban areas, this figure rose from 585,000 to 652,000, while rural underemployment increased from 496,000 to 538,000.
As a result, the national underemployment rate climbed from 10.1% to 10.9%. In urban settings, it rose from 8.9% to 9.6%, and in rural areas, it increased from 12.2% to 13.2%.
