ROME—Matteo Renzi on Friday unveiled a new cabinet that represented a mix of change and continuity, the first step in his ambitious bid to lead a government aimed at shaking up Italy.

Mr. Renzi, poised to be Italy's youngest premier ever, presented a list of 16 ministers, a leaner cabinet than his predecessor Enrico Letta, who was forced to resign last week following a revolt of his center-left Democratic Party.

Half of the new ministers are women and a clutch of them are under 40. But six were also members of the Letta government, a decision that could expose Mr. Renzi to criticisms of falling short on his promises to make a clean break with the past.

For the key Economy Ministry, Mr. Renzi tapped Pier Carlo Padoan, 64, chief economist of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Federica Guidi, a 43-year-old lawyer who once headed the Confindustria business lobby's youth chapter, was named as industry minister, while Angelino Alfano, head of a small conservative party that will provide critical parliamentarian support for Mr. Renzi's government, was reconfirmed as interior minister.

Mr. Renzi had heavily criticized the inability of the Letta government to push through reforms to help Italy's economy recover from more than two years of recession. He presented his government after more than two hours of talks on Friday with President Giorgio Napolitano. Mr. Napolitano will swear in the new government Saturday morning.