3.2 million Italians jobless, highest since 2004

(ANSA) - Rome, October 31 - Istat said Friday that 3.236 million Italians were unemployed in September, the highest level since the national statistics agency started using its current calculation method in 2004. The nominal unemployment figure is 48,000 (1.5%) higher than in August and 58,000 (1.8%) up on the same month in 2013.
    Istat added that the number of people in work was 22.457 million in September, 82,000 (0.4%) up on August and 130,000 (0.6%) up on the same month in 2013. But the jobless total increased nonetheless, as the overall working population grew, thanks to a drop in the number of 15-to-64-year-olds who are "inactive" and not on the labour market.