Italy lost around one million jobs since the start of the global economic crisis, according to a study released by trade union UIL on Wednesday.

Over half of the job losses, 567,000, involved people in steady posts in private firms or the public sector, rather than freelance or self-employed workers. According to the study, almost 13 million Italians had lost their jobs, had had their work hours reduced or were employed in positions with little job security.

The study pointed out that Italy’s unemployment rate has climbed to 12.6% in 2014 with the highest rate recorded among under 25s. The report added that one in three Italians of working age suffered some form of economic hardship or job insecurity during the crisis.