Rome: Italy`s unemployment rate rose in February, reversing a big drop in December and fall in January, and dampening hopes the eurozone`s third- largest economy was on the road to recovery.
The jobless rate rose to 12.7 percent, up 0.1 percentage points from January, data from the national statistics institute (ISTAT) showed on Tuesday.
Youth unemployment also rose to 42.6 percent, up 1.3 percentage points on a month earlier.
The jobless rate in December had dropped from 13.4 percent to 12.7 percent, followed by a further dip to 12.6 percent in January. Consumer confidence had also risen to the highest level in over 12 years.
Italy is battling to pull itself clear of the longest economic downturn since World War II.
In February, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi`s cabinet used decrees to implement the Jobs Act, which aims to make it easier for companies to fire employees in a bid to boost hiring and lure foreign investment.
