The number of temporary agency workers in Italy during May 2017 was up by 21.7% compared to the previous year according to the latest figures from Ebitemp, the bilateral organisation for temporary employment representing employers’ associations and unions.

Ebitemp figures showed that the number of temp workers in May 2017 reached 461,205 compared with 379, 046 in the same period last year, an increase of 21.7%. Of the total number of temp workers in May, 9.3% of them worked for an indefinite period.

Meanwhile, the total payroll of temporary workers in May increased by 24.7% compared to the same month last year. Of the 442,353 temp workers in April, 9.7% of them worked for an “indefinite period”.

Ebitemp data also showed that the number of hours worked in May 2017 increased by 24% year-on-year. The hours worked per worker increased by 2% compared to April 2017.

According to figures from Eurostat, the statistical body of the European Union, Italy’s unemployment rate in April stood at 11.3%, up by 0.2% when compared to the previous year.