Unemployment in France - statistics & facts
The fight against unemployment is a war horse for all governments. Guaranteeing jobs for citizens is a necessary condition to develop a national economy. In France, many measures have been put in place since the end of the 30 glorious years (Les Trente Glorieuses, 1945-1975) to stop the various waves of unemployment. While in 1997 France reached one of the highest unemployment rates since 1982 with 10.3 percent, Lionel Jospin's government shortened the work week from 39 to 35 hours under the Aubry law. Four years later, the rate had fallen to 7.3 percent.
Although the measures apply to the entire population, the effects vary widely from one group to another. This is due to factors such as socio-professional categories, gender, region of residence or age.
Young people are also hit harder by economic ups and downs in France. During the 2008-2009 economic crisis, the French youth unemployment rate rose from 18.8 percent in the first quarter of 2008 to 25.5 percent in the third quarter of 2009. In the second half of 2020, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, young people were most affected by the national lockdown. Older job-seekers saw their unemployment rate fall, taking advantage of various safeguarding government measures.
Registering with France Travail also opens the door to unemployment insurance, with 2.6 million unemployed people receiving it in 2023. In June of the same year, an unemployed person received an average salary of 1,295 euros per month. Still, some job-seekers find it difficult to find work after several months or even years, despite government assistance and services. In the second quarter of 2024, more than 2.2 million people had not found a job for at least a year in France.
Rising unemployment is a real danger for economies based on mass consumption. The COVID-19 crisis has made France fear the worst after seeing the number of unemployed people explode. However, in the second half of 2020, the French unemployment rate was curbed by several measures, such as short-time work, or reduced working hours, to relieve companies of employee wages during the lockdown. The crisis still significantly affected key sectors of the French economy, such as tourism, which was heavily impacted. Yet, a few years later, estimates predicted a stagnation of the unemployment rate around 7.7 percent.
Unemployed youth and women
In the second quarter of 2024, most of the unemployed were men. However, women are more numerous in the B and C categories among job seekers. These categories include the unemployed pursuing part-time jobs.Young people are also hit harder by economic ups and downs in France. During the 2008-2009 economic crisis, the French youth unemployment rate rose from 18.8 percent in the first quarter of 2008 to 25.5 percent in the third quarter of 2009. In the second half of 2020, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, young people were most affected by the national lockdown. Older job-seekers saw their unemployment rate fall, taking advantage of various safeguarding government measures.
National measures to help the unemployed back into work
The French employment agency France Travail has a network covering metropolitan France and overseas territories. The mission of France Travail is to accompany the unemployed in their search for work.Registering with France Travail also opens the door to unemployment insurance, with 2.6 million unemployed people receiving it in 2023. In June of the same year, an unemployed person received an average salary of 1,295 euros per month. Still, some job-seekers find it difficult to find work after several months or even years, despite government assistance and services. In the second quarter of 2024, more than 2.2 million people had not found a job for at least a year in France.
Rising unemployment is a real danger for economies based on mass consumption. The COVID-19 crisis has made France fear the worst after seeing the number of unemployed people explode. However, in the second half of 2020, the French unemployment rate was curbed by several measures, such as short-time work, or reduced working hours, to relieve companies of employee wages during the lockdown. The crisis still significantly affected key sectors of the French economy, such as tourism, which was heavily impacted. Yet, a few years later, estimates predicted a stagnation of the unemployment rate around 7.7 percent.
