According to a report by Eures, the European job mobility portal, 362 unemployed people took their own lives in 2010, up from 357 in the previous year.
The report said the reason behind the rising number of suicides in Italy was a lack of work or the prospect of getting a job, and that people in their late 40s, 50s or early 60s were the most vulnerable.
In 2010, 44.7 per cent of people who took their lives were unemployed, and northern Italy seemed the worst hit.
One of the most shocking cases reported by local media was the self-immolation last month of a 58-year-old builder from Bologna in central Italy who was under pressure over unpaid taxes. He later died of his burns in hospital.
In the latest case, a 53-year-old farmer was found hanged in his farm building in north-east Italy, leaving behind a wife and four children. He had told friends and relatives that his business was in serious financial trouble.
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The leader of the centre-right People of Freedom party, Angelino Alfano, pointed to "a wave of suicides linked to economic difficulties.''
Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of Fiat, Italy's biggest private company, said: "This is the reflection of an unsustainable situation.''
Antonio Di Pietro, leader of the centre-left Italy of Values party, took direct - and controversial - aim at Prime Minister Mario Monti saying: "These suicides are on his conscience.''
He accused Mr Monti of "lying in the newspapers about the crisis being over.''
Italy's large immigrant population has also been feeling the pain of economic troubles. Last month, a 27-year-old Moroccan builder who had not been paid for months set himself on fire in the centre of Verona.
"He shouted out that he hadn't been paid for four months and poured petrol over himself before setting himself alight. Police raced to put the flames out and he has been taken to hospital,'' a police official said.
The spate of suicides has prompted the association "Businesses That Resist'' to establish a network of psychologists to help business owners and workers discuss their problems and receive care.
"It's not hard to find yourself in great difficulty,'' said Massimo Mazzucchelli, a businessman from Varese in northern Italy who is behind the project.
Mr Mazzuchelli said some of the most frequent problems were debts, payment of tax arrears, delayed payments by clients and obtaining loans from banks.
"There is therefore a concrete need for psychological assistance since the situation is getting worse,'' he said.
He admitted, however, that getting business people to admit they need help is not always easy.
"They have often done everything on their own and are used to resolving their problems on their own,'' he said.
Kety Ceolin, a psychoanalyst from the Venice region, said that the business owners who come to her are struggling with "shame'' and have the feeling "that there is no one out there to ask for concrete help''.
She added: "Being able to speak to someone allows them to open up... and avoid the risk of isolation which can lead to dramatic acts.''
Readers seeking support and information about suicide, or just someone to talk to, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
