ROME: Italy's jobless rate was stable at 10.2pc in April, national statistics bureau ISTAT reported on Tuesday, with employment levels little changed from the month before.
A Reuters survey of eight analysts had forecast an increase in the unemployment rate to 10.3pc .
March's rate was unrevised at 10.2pc , which was the lowest since August last year.
In the February-April period some 72,000 jobs were created compared with the previous three months, ISTAT said -- a rise of 0.3pc .
In the three month period temporary contracts declined by 0.5pc , while permanent jobs increased by 0.4pc .
One of the first measures of the anti-austerity government which took office 12-months ago was to pass measures aimed at curbing temporary hires and encouraging open-ended contracts.
The so-called "dignity decree" took full effect in November.
With the employment rate close to its highest level for a decade, the data suggests the labour market is holding up so far, despite Italy's stagnant economy.
In April the youth unemployment rate, measuring job-seekers between 15 and 24 years old, rose to 31.4pc .from 30.6pc in March, which was the lowest for around eight years.
Italy's overall employment rate, one of the lowest in the euro zone, slipped in April to 58.8pc percent from 58.9pc in March, which was the highest since April 2008.
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