Still young and jobless

Italy’s unemployment rate for people between the ages of 15 to 24 hit a record high of 29.6 percent, a 0.8 percent rise from last year’s 28.8 percent rate during the same fiscal quarter. Despite this, data shows that the overall unemployment rate in the first quarter has improved from 9.1 percent in 2010 to 8.6 percent. Much of the improvement reflects the government’s focus on creating jobs for women by legalising domestic work and in-home caregiving, and increasing the number of part-time jobs. Officials hope this new policy will improve the 49.6 percent unemployment rate among young women in Italy’s south, which is particularly struggling.