The country’s unemployment rate decreased to 8.7% this January, compared to the upwardly revised rate of 11.7% in January 2024 and the downwardly revised rate of 9.3% in December 2024. The number of unemployed persons reached 408,181, marking a decrease of 149,257 compared to January 2024 (26.8%) and a decrease of 28,830 compared to December 2024 (6.6%).

For women, the unemployment rate stood at 10.9%, down from 13.9% in January last year, while for men, it was at 7%, down from 9.9%.

By major age groups, the unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 was 19.5%, down from 23.2% in January 2024, and for those aged 25-74, it was 8.1%, down from 11%.

Additionally, according to the Labor Force Survey by ELSTAT, the number of employed persons rose to 4,288,284, indicating an increase of 61,559 persons compared to January 2024 (1.5%) and an increase of 8,794 persons compared to December 2024 (0.2%).

Meanwhile, the number of individuals under 75 years old who are not included in the labor force, or "economically inactive individuals" (meaning those who are neither employed nor seeking work), reached 3,066,282, marking an increase of 59,740 persons compared to January 2024 (2%) and an increase of 17,952 persons compared to December 2024 (0.6%).