Italy's employment picture shows growing precarious work despite official optimism

Italy employment precarious contracts unemployment Istat

A report by UIL Marche shows that permanent hires in the region fell from 6,824 to 6,606 in the first quarter of 2026, while temporary contracts remain dominant with more than 20,000 such agreements signed. The same period recorded 35,986 job terminations, largely unchanged from the previous year, indicating a labour market still characterised by instability.

At the same time, critics highlight that the government’s claim of record‑high employment masks deeper problems. ISTAT data shows the national unemployment rate has dropped to about 5%, the lowest since 2004, but March 2026 saw a loss of 12,000 jobs and a rise of 46,000 inactive workers, with youth inactivity approaching 80%. Roughly 48% of private‑sector employees earn under €20,000 a year, most of them on insecure contracts, and Italy remains the only G7 country without a statutory minimum wage.

Entities

Claudia Mazzucchelli · Democrazia Sovrana Popolare · Francesco Toscano · Giorgia Meloni · Istat · Italy · Marco Rizzo · Roberto Vannacci · UIL Marche

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] More than 20,000 temporary contracts were signed in the Marche in Q1 2026, making them the most common contract type. www.viveremarche.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] Permanent hires in the Marche region fell from 6,824 to 6,606 in Q1 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. www.viveremarche.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] In March 2026 Italy lost 12,000 jobs while the number of inactive people rose by 46,000. avantionline.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] About 48% of private‑sector employees earn less than €20,000 gross per year, and most of them are on unstable contracts. avantionline.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] Italy's unemployment rate fell to about 5%, the lowest level since ISTAT began recording in 2004. avantionline.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] Youth inactivity in Italy approached 80% in March 2026. avantionline.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] Italy is the only G7 country without a statutory minimum wage. avantionline.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] There were 35,986 job terminations in the Marche during Jan‑Mar 2026, virtually unchanged from 36,049 in the same period of 2025. www.viveremarche.it