Eurostat, has just published the data regarding Italy’s percentage (compared to all EU member states) of those between the ages of 15 – 64 who are not part of the workforce. Which means, neither working nor unemployed (35.1%). This figure represents, for the most part, students, retired individuals, severely ill and disabled individuals, and family members who care for a child or an adult who is invalided. And among these Italians, but also in other EU countries, women represent the majority of this population. Right behind Italy, follows Croatia and Romania (both with 34.4%), Belgium (32.4%) and Greece (31.8%). The countries at the bottom of the list are Switzerland (with only 17.9% of its citizens inactive), then Denmark (20%) and Holland (20.3%).

Last year, 89 million people aged 15 to 64 were economically inactive in the European Union (EU). In other words, slightly more than a quarter (27.1%) of the EU population aged 15-64 stood outside the labour market, being neither employed nor unemployed. This included people who were in education or training (35% of the inactive people), retired (16%), suffering from serious illness or disability (16%), or also those who were looking after children or incapacitated adults (10%). Women made up the majority of this economically active population group (60%). In total, almost 8 in 10 inactive people (78%) declared that they did not wish to work.

The level of education seemed to play a role, as the proportion of inactive people in the EU fell as educational levels rose among them. While almost half (47%) of those aged 15-64 with a low education level (at most lower secondary education) were inactive in 2016, this share decreased to 24% for those with a medium education level and fell to 12% when it came to the part of the population with a high education level (tertiary education).

Nearly 31% of Bulgarians aged 15-64 were economically inactive in 2016, according to Eurostat data, released on Wednesday. Figures suggest that 27%  of the EU population were outside the labour market in 2016.

Home data confirm that economically inactive Bulgarians aged 15-64 totalled 1.5 million in 2016.

Of these 164,000 were permanently discouraged. At 70 per cent, people with secondary education accounted for the largest portion, followed by people with primary education at 61%.

The largest number of economically inactive people was recorded in the 15-24 age group, at over 500,000. Nearly 224,000 persons aged 25-34 were economically inactive, 155,000 persons aged 35-44, and 160,000 aged 45-54. In the most economically active age group, 55-64, over 400,000 Bulgarians were unemployed.

In Bulgaria, 641,000 men and over 800,000 women aged 15-64 were unemployed.

Nearly 90 million people aged 15 to 64 were economically inactive in the European Union. The level of education seemed to play a role, as the proportion of inactive people in the EU fell as educational levels rose among them. While almost half (47 per cent) of those aged 15-64 with a low education level (at most lower secondary education) were inactive in 2016, this share decreased to 24% for those with a medium education level and fell to 12%  when it came to the part of the population with a high education level (tertiary education).

Across the EU Member States, Italy (35.1%) recorded the highest proportion of persons outside the labour market. It was followed by Croatia and Romania (both 34.4%), Belgium (32.4 per cent) and Greece (31.8%).

At the opposite end of the scale, the lowest share was registered in Sweden (17.9%), ahead of Denmark (20.0%) and the Netherlands (20.3%).

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