France unemployment rate for 2024 was 7.37%, a 0.04% increase from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>France unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>7.34%</strong>, a <strong>0.03% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>France unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>7.31%</strong>, a <strong>0.57% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>France unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>7.87%</strong>, a <strong>0.14% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Unemployment Rate in France increased to 7.40 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 7.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - France Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

This statistic shows the unemployment rate in France from 1991 to 2024. In 2024, the unemployment rate in France was around 7.37 percent. Population of France A member of the G7 and G20, France is one of the world's most powerful, advanced and emerging economies. With a total population of around 65 million people, France’s economy must adapt itself to employ the growing population. Although the rates of population growth in the past five years have declined in comparison to the population growth rates between 2003 and 2007, there is still an overall growth in the total population. An important factor that directly affects the French economy is the percentage increase in people who are 65 years of age or older and the percentage decline of people between the ages of 15 and 64 years. Because the percentage of the working population is decreasing, mainly people between the ages of 15 and 64 years, and the median age of the population in France is increasing, the economy must adapt to the growing competition by providing more employment opportunities. With the Eurozone crisis and global financial crisis of 2008, the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate in France suffered dramatic drops between 2008 and 2009 in comparison to the previous year. Despite having increased between 2009 and 2013, employment in France has not reached the record high of 2008 again yet. In addition, the unemployment rates in the last decade have increased by almost two percent.

In 2010, unemployment rate in France reached a record level of 10.4 percent. Unemployment remains a rampant issue for French economy, being stagnant year-over-year since the financial and economical crisis in 2008. During the first quarter of 2018, more than 1.4 million people aged between 25 and 49 years were unemployed in France.

Change in unemployment since 2008

In 2008, year of the financial crisis, unemployment rate in France reached its lowest level since 2004. That year, France had an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent while, one year before it had reached 8 eight percent. Unemployment is an important economic factor for a country and a measure of a region’s economic health. Despite its low level in 2008, unemployment rate in France increased steadily between 2009 and 2016. In 2015, it even reached its highest level since the mid-2000s with a percentage of unemployed people among the French population which was of 10.4 percent. That year, unemployed people represented 11.5 percent of the urban population in France. However, French unemployment rate seemed to be experiencing improvements in recent years. In 2017, long-term employment rate decreased after several years of constant growth.

Unemployment in France and the EU

European markets were particularly affected by the 2008 global financial crisis and the recession which followed. Nevertheless, Unemployment rate in the EU reached 6.5 percent in January 2019, compared to 7.2 percent one year before and the number of unemployed persons in the European Union and the Euro area is declining since 2018. This improvement seems to be affecting France to a lesser extent. France was one of the EU members with the highest unemployment rate in 2019, and youth unemployment still reaches a record number in the country.

Key information about France Unemployment Rate

• France Unemployment Rate increased to 7.20% in Jun 2023, from the previously reported figure of 7.10% in Mar 2023.
• France Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1975 to Jun 2023, with an average rate of 8.80%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 10.70% in Jun 1997 and a record low of 3.20% in Mar 1975.
• The data is reported by reported by National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.
• In the latest reports, France Population reached 68.04 million people in Dec 2022.

Youth Unemployment Rate in France decreased to 18 percent in May from 18.20 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - France Youth Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

France - Unemployment rate was 7.40% in March of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Unemployment rate - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, France - Unemployment rate reached a record high of 10.50% in December of 2014 and a record low of 7.10% in March of 2023.

France Unemployment Rate: Average: sa: MF: Age: Women: 25 to 49 data was reported at 8.700 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.600 % for Jun 2018. France Unemployment Rate: Average: sa: MF: Age: Women: 25 to 49 data is updated quarterly, averaging 8.700 % from Mar 1975 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 175 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.000 % in Jun 1996 and a record low of 3.300 % in Mar 1975. France Unemployment Rate: Average: sa: MF: Age: Women: 25 to 49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.G024: Unemployment Rate: Seasonally Adjusted.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Male: 15 Years or over for France (LRUNTTMAFRQ156S) from Q1 2003 to Q4 2024 about 15 years +, France, males, unemployment, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for France (LRHUTTTTFRA156N) from 1983 to 2024 about France, harmonized, unemployment, persons, and rate.

France Unemployment Rate: Avg: sa: MF: Men: Age: 15 to 24 data was reported at 19.100 % in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 19.200 % for Sep 2024. France Unemployment Rate: Avg: sa: MF: Men: Age: 15 to 24 data is updated quarterly, averaging 17.550 % from Mar 1975 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 200 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24.800 % in Mar 2016 and a record low of 4.700 % in Mar 1975. France Unemployment Rate: Avg: sa: MF: Men: Age: 15 to 24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.G029: Unemployment Rate: Seasonally Adjusted: New Methodology. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

The youth unemployment rate in France decreased to 16.57 percent compared to the previous year. This marks the lowest youth unemployment rate during the observed period. The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more statistics on other topics about France with key insights such as employment level in services as a share of total employment for men, labor participation rate among the total population aged between 15 and 64, and employment level in services as a share of total employment for women.

France - Unemployment rate: From 15 to 24 years was 18.70% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Unemployment rate: From 15 to 24 years - last updated from the EUROSTAT on June of 2025. Historically, France - Unemployment rate: From 15 to 24 years reached a record high of 26.40% in December of 2013 and a record low of 17.20% in December of 2023.

France youth unemployment rate for 2024 was 16.57%, a 0.7% decline from 2023.

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<li>France youth unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>17.27%</strong>, a <strong>0.58% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>France youth unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>17.85%</strong>, a <strong>1.43% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>France youth unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>19.28%</strong>, a <strong>1.12% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.

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 *** 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 ** million euros for work and employment, which was only the government’s ninth spending area that year.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, La Réunion and Guadeloupe, two overseas regions, had the highest unemployment rate among all French regions. Over there, the unemployment rate reached **** and **** percent, respectively, compared to around *** percent in Bretagne and Pays de la Loire. Unemployment: an important issue in the economy of France France has been struggling with unemployment since the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2008 financial crisis. The unemployment rate in the country reached a record level in 2015 when it amounted to nearly **** percent. However, the situation of employment in France has shown signs of recovery since then. Youth unemployment in the country is finally decreasing; in the meantime, long-term unemployment in France has not yet regained its pre-2008 levels, but stood at *** percent in 2024, a decrease of *** points since the previous year. Being unemployed in France Unemployment does not affect the population in the same way. As displayed by this figure, the northern part of France, which used to be a mining center, was more impacted by the phenomenon. Workers, contrary to the more qualified socio-professional categories, were also more affected by unemployment, as well as women, who are usually more unemployed than men in France, regardless of their nationality.

France Unemployment Rate: Average: sa: MF: Age: Men: Above 49 data was reported at 6.300 % in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.400 % for Jun 2018. France Unemployment Rate: Average: sa: MF: Age: Men: Above 49 data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.100 % from Mar 1975 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 175 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.800 % in Jun 2015 and a record low of 1.700 % in Mar 1975. France Unemployment Rate: Average: sa: MF: Age: Men: Above 49 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.G024: Unemployment Rate: Seasonally Adjusted.

France - Unemployment rate: Males was 7.50% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Unemployment rate: Males - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, France - Unemployment rate: Males reached a record high of 10.80% in December of 2015 and a record low of 7.10% in December of 2008.

Long Term Unemployment Rate in France remained unchanged at 1.70 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 1.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - France Long Term Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

France - Unemployment rate: From 25 to 54 years was 6.30% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for France - Unemployment rate: From 25 to 54 years - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, France - Unemployment rate: From 25 to 54 years reached a record high of 9.20% in December of 2015 and a record low of 6.00% in December of 2008.