The number of job seekers without any activity (category A) increased by 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023 throughout France (including overseas, excluding Mayotte), according to figures published Thursday January 25 by the Ministry of work.
This is the second consecutive quarter of increase, bringing the number of people registered with France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) to 3.033 million (4,800 registered). Including unemployed people in reduced activity (categories B and C), the number of job seekers increased by 1% in the fourth quarter, or 54,000 more registered, and stood at 5.406 million, according to the management of the animation of research, studies and statistics (Dares), attached to the Ministry of Labor.
In the third quarter, the increase in the number of category A unemployed was stronger than in the fourth, with an increase of 0.6%.
Increase of 5.9% year-on-year for those under 25
Year-on-year, unemployment continued to decline at the end of last year, with a decrease of 19,400 in the number of unemployed without activity, a decrease of 0.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.
The number of unemployed people without activity has in fact increased especially among young people. In mainland France, the increase is 5.9% over one year for those under 25, and 2.9% in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter. Conversely, unemployment fell by 0.6% over a quarter and over a year for people aged 25 to 49. Among those aged 50 and over, it fell by 2.9% over one year but increased by 0.6% over one quarter.
For unemployed people in categories B and C, all age groups are experiencing an increase, but among young people the number is growing more quickly.
By region, the number of unemployed job seekers decreases in particular by 1% in the Grand Est and by 2.6% in Martinique over one quarter. On the other hand, it increases by 1.8% in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and 4% in Guyana over the same period.
