The number of temporary agency workers in Italy for the month of December 2017 increased by 23.6% on an annual basis,  according to figures from Ebitemp, the bilateral organisation for temporary employment representing employers’ associations and unions.

Meanwhile, the total payroll of temporary workers in December increased by 23.3% compared to the same month last year. 

The number of hours worked in December 2017 increased by 21.4% on an annual basis. Broken down by hours worked per worker, Ebitemp fell by 1.8% compared to December 2016.

Eurostat figures for December showed that Italy’s unemployment rate stood at 10.8%, the fourth-highest after Cyprus, Spain and Greece.