The unemployment rate started to rise again in May in Italy as job seekers, in particular women, are actively resuming their efforts after weeks of confinement which have weighed on economic activity, Istat said on Thursday .
The number of people looking for work increased by 18.9% compared to April, to 307,000 people, according to the National Institute of Statistics.
Women represent the vast majority of this contingent (+ 31.3%, to 227,000 people).
This spectacular rebound is explained by the fact that nearly 500,000 unemployed Italian workers had given up looking for work the previous month, due to the lack of prospects, many businesses and businesses being closed.
The unemployment rate rose 1.2 points to 7.8% between April and May.
Italy, the first country affected in Europe by the epidemic, imposed strict containment measures for two months, in March and April, paralyzing a large part of its economic activity.
In the first quarter, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell 5.3% compared to the previous, a decline never seen in 25 years, according to Istat.
The country is expected to suffer its worst recession since the Second World War this year, with a plunge in GDP, estimated by the Bank of Italy, between 9 and 13%.
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