Rome, Dhu-AlHijjah 16, 1436, September 30, 2015, SPA -- Italy's unemployment rate fell below 12-per-cent in August for the first time in two and a half years, according to official data Wednesday, which was interpreted by the government as a vindication of its labour reforms, dpa reported. The percentage of people out of work fell to 11.9 per cent last month, a level last recorded in February 2013, and down from 12 per cent in July and a peak of 13 per cent in November, national statistics office Istat said. However, youth unemployment rose month-on-month by 0.3 percentage points, to 40.7 per cent, although this was still lower than the 43-per-cent rate registered in August 2014. "The Istat data certify that the Jobs Act works," Prime Minister Matteo Renzi commented on Facebook, noting that employment had grown by 325,000 on a yearly basis. "Reforms are bearing fruit, Italy is restarting," he added. --SPA 14:09 LOCAL TIME 11:09 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w