Unemployment data remains encouraging. With 7.2% of the active population in France (excluding Mayotte) related to job seekers in the second quarter, the increase is only minimal compared to the first quarter of 2023 according to figures published by INSEE. The number of unemployed as defined by the International Labor Office (ILO) increased by 20,000 people to 2.2 million, notes INSEE.
The unemployment rate nevertheless remains 0.2 points below its level of a year ago and 3.3 points below its peak in mid-2015. “It remains very close to its lowest level measured since the second quarter of 1982 (7.1%)”, underlines the institute in its press release. Over the quarter, the unemployment rate was almost stable for all age groups.
It is 16.7% (0.1 point) for 15-24 year olds, down 1.1 point over one year, and 6.5% (0.1) for 25-49 year olds, almost at the same level as a year earlier (-0.1 point). That of people aged 50 or over stands at 5.1% (-0.1 point), the same level as a year ago.
The unemployment rate for men fell by 0.2 points to 7.2%, and once again approached that of women, which rebounded by 0.3 points to 7.1%. The long-term unemployment rate (at least one year) was stable over the quarter, at 1.8% of the active population, or 564,000 people. This level is at its lowest since the first quarter of 2009.
The “unemployment halo”, i.e. people wanting to return to the labor market but who are not considered unemployed by the ILO (actually looking for a job and being available to take one) , is almost stable, at 2 million people (-7,000).
As for the employment rate of 15-64 year olds, it is also stable at 68.6% and remains at its highest level since INSEE measured it (1975). But, while the pension reform will come into force on September 1, it increases by 0.7 points for 55-64 year olds.
