Youth unemployment rate in France 2006-2023, by gender

Since 2015, the unemployment rate of young French men and women has been steadily decreasing. While the 2008 economic crisis caused financial troubles in all EU member states, impacting companies and banks, studies have shown that the lack of follow-up and the absence of options for young people without diplomas are some of the main causes of youth unemployment in France.

Younger generations are more affected by unemployment

If the global unemployment rate of the country increased from 2011 to 2016, it has not reached more than 7.3 percent in 2023. But in recent years, younger generations seemed to be particularly affected by unemployment in France while the percentage of the working population is decreasing in the country.

The issue of unemployment in France

France has one of the highest unemployment rates in the European Union. Workers seem to be more affected by unemployment compared to employees or managers, while long-term unemployment is more prevalent among the older generations. Thus, for years, the French government has been trying to find solutions to curb the rise in unemployment. The average monthly gross amount of benefits increased slightly since 2011, while the country spent more than 12 million euros for work and employment, which was only the government’s ninth spending area that year.