The latest reading topped both the 5.0% estimate and the revised 5.3% prior, marking a sharp downside surprise for the euro zone's third-largest economy.
Italy's unemployment rate rose to 5.7% in the latest reading, coming in well above the 5.0% forecast and the revised prior figure of 5.3%. The result points to an unexpected deterioration in labor-market conditions in the euro zone's third-largest economy and represents a notably large miss versus expectations.