Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed
satisfaction on Friday after Istat said the employment rate for
people aged 15 to 64 in southern Italy reached 50.1% in the
second quarter of 2025, the highest figure on record since the
start of the statistical series in the 2004.
The rate had never hit the 50% mark before.
The figure for the second quarter was up from 49.9% in the
January-March period and from 49.3% in the second quarter of
2024.
Istat said the number of people in employment in southern Italy
was 6.549 million, which was also the highest figure on record
and an increase of 96,000 on the same period last year.
“They accused us of wanting to split Italy, but the truth is
that we chose to believe in the energy, talent and strength of
the South,” Meloni said via social media.
“We had the courage to say enough to a season of welfarism,
which for too long fed the idea that the South was condemned to
remain behind.
“We have invested in infrastructure, labour and merit.
“We are working to put the South in a position to compete on
equal terms and to demonstrate its full value at last.
“Istat data today certify that the highest number of people
since 2004 are in employment in the South.
“The road is the right one, and we will continue along it, to
finally build an Italy in which everyone has the same
opportunities.”
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