The unemployment rate in France increased to 9% in Q3 of 2020, the highest level since Q3 of 2018, from 7.1% in the second quarter and above market expectations of 7.9%. Unemployment data for the first two quarters of 2020 was skewed because of the mid-March to mid-May lockdown, which reduced the number of those technically classified as unemployed since it had been impossible for them to look for jobs. Labour search behaviours resumed in Q3, consequently unemployment rose sharply in Q3 2020. However, the increase in unemployment compared to either Q3 2019 (+0.6 points), highlights a clear deterioration in the labour market. The unemployment rate rose sharply for people aged 25 to 49 years (+2.1 points) and those aged 50 and over (+1.7 points), than among people aged 15-24 years (+0.9 points). Meantime, the employment rate rose 0.9 points to 65.1 percent, while the activity rate increased by 2.2 points to 71.6%. source: INSEE, France

Unemployment Rate in France averaged 8.34 percent from 1975 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 10.80 percent in the second quarter of 1994 and a record low of 3 percent in the first quarter of 1975. This page 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. France Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on December of 2020.

Unemployment Rate in France is expected to be 11.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Unemployment Rate in France to stand at 9.80 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the France Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 9.50 percent in 2021 and 9.00 percent in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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France Unemployment Rate

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
9.00 7.10 10.80 3.00 1975 - 2020 percent Quarterly
SA


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-02-13 06:30 AM Q4 8.1% 8.5% 8.5% 8.4%
2020-05-14 05:30 AM Q1 7.8% 8.1% 8.4% 8.5%
2020-08-13 05:30 AM Q2 7.1% 7.8% 8.3% 8.5%
2020-11-10 06:30 AM Q3 9% 7.1% 7.9% 8.0%
2021-02-16 06:30 AM Q4
2021-05-14 05:30 AM Q1
2021-08-13 05:30 AM Q2
2021-11-10 06:30 AM Q3
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
France Jobless Rate Highest Since 2018
The unemployment rate in France increased to 9% in Q3 of 2020, the highest level since Q3 of 2018, from 7.1% in the second quarter and above market expectations of 7.9%. Unemployment data for the first two quarters of 2020 was skewed because of the mid-March to mid-May lockdown, which reduced the number of those technically classified as unemployed since it had been impossible for them to look for jobs. Labour search behaviours resumed in Q3, consequently unemployment rose sharply in Q3 2020. However, the increase in unemployment compared to either Q3 2019 (+0.6 points), highlights a clear deterioration in the labour market. The unemployment rate rose sharply for people aged 25 to 49 years (+2.1 points) and those aged 50 and over (+1.7 points), than among people aged 15-24 years (+0.9 points). Meantime, the employment rate rose 0.9 points to 65.1 percent, while the activity rate increased by 2.2 points to 71.6%.
2020-11-10
French Jobless Rate Lowest Since 1983
The unemployment rate in France declined to 7.1 percent in the second quarter, the lowest level since the three months to June 1983 and below market expectations of 8.3 percent, due to a sharp fall in the number of jobless persons declaring themselves actively looking for work during the period of lockdown. The unemployment rate fell sharply for people aged 25 to 49 years (-0.8 points) and those aged 50 and over (-1.0 points), but increased strongly for people aged 15-24 years (+1.8 points). The unemployment rate decreased more strongly for women (-1.1 points) than men (-0.3 points). Meantime, the employment rate declined 1.6 points to 64.4 percent, its lowest level since the beginning of 2017, while the activity rate decreased by 2.3 points to 69.4 percent, the lowest since 2007.
2020-08-13
French Jobless Rate Falls to Over 11-Year Low
The unemployment rate in France declined to 7.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020, the lowest level since the three months to December 2008 and below market expectations of 8.4 percent, due to a sharp fall in the number of unemployed declaring themselves available or actively looking for work during the period of lockdown. In metropolitan France only, the unemployment rate stood at 7.6 percent. The rate diminished significantly among persons aged 15 to 24 (-0.7 points) and those aged 50 and over (-0.4 points). The long term unemployment rate dropped to 3.0 percent from 3.2 percent. Meantime, the employment rate was stable at 66 percent, while the activity rate decreased by 0.2 points to 71.7 percent.
2020-05-14
French Jobless Rate Falls to 11-Year Low
The unemployment rate in France declined to 8.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019, the lowest level since the three months to December 2008 and below market expectations of 8.5 percent, as the number of unemployed decreased by 85,000 to 2.4 million people. In metropolitan France only, the unemployment rate stood at 7.9 percent. The rate diminished significantly among persons aged 25 to 49 (-0.5 points) and those aged 50 and over (-0.5 points). The long term unemployment rate dropped to 3.2 percent, the lowest since the second quarter of 2009. Meantime, the employment rate rose by 0.7 points to an all-time high of 65.9 percent, while the activity rate increased by 0.4 points to 71.8 percent.
2020-02-13

France Unemployment Rate
In France, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.