France has recorded its sharpest quarterly increase in unemployment in a decade, with the number of jobseekers in Category A (those without any employment) rising by 3.9% in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to data from the Ministry of Labor. Excluding Mayotte, this marks the largest quarterly surge in unemployment in mainland France over the past ten years.
The Directorate for Research, Studies, and Statistics (DARES) reported that the unemployment rate among individuals under 25 years old soared to 8.5% during the quarter, driven by a decline in job opportunities and an increase in business failures. The total number of Category A jobseekers reached 3.138 million, reflecting an increase of 117,000 individuals compared to the previous quarter.
Over the past year, the number of jobseekers in Category A has risen by 3.5%, a significant jump compared to the modest increases seen in earlier quarters. When including those with reduced work hours (Categories A, B, and C), the total number of jobseekers climbed to 5.495 million, marking a quarterly increase of 1.7% and an annual rise of 1.8%. These figures apply to mainland France, excluding Mayotte.
Economic expert Nathalie Chusseau, speaking to AFP, described the data as “consistent with business failures and social plans.” The report follows recent findings from the Association for the Employment of Executives (APEC), which noted a 2.4% decline in job postings during the fourth quarter compared to the previous three months.
The rising unemployment figures highlight ongoing challenges in France’s labor market, particularly for younger workers and those in precarious employment situations. The data underscores the need for targeted economic policies to address the growing disparity in job opportunities and stabilize the labor market.
