Italy labor market reaches record employment levels in 2026

The Italian labor market shows signs of strength and stability heading into the second quarter of 2026. Nationally, the number of employed persons reached a record high of 24.4 million, with the unemployment rate stabilizing at 5.6% following a historic low of 5.5% in the previous quarter. Data indicates an improvement in job quality, as permanent contracts now account for 86.7% of employees.

In the Tuscany region, the labor market remains largely stable despite mixed signals. While permanent employment and apprenticeships grew by 2%, there was a slight decrease in new stable contracts and a 0.4% dip in total job placements compared to the same period in 2025. The regional unemployment rate rose slightly from 4.2% to 4.4%, with the number of unemployed individuals increasing to 78,000.