The number of unemployed individuals in France (excluding Mayotte) increased by 29,000 people in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the previous quarter, reaching a total of 2.3 million people, as announced by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies on Tuesday.
According to a statement by the institute, the unemployment rate, as defined by the International Labour Organization, stood at 7.5 percent of the active population, remaining stable compared to the third quarter of 2023.
Unemployment rates increased by 0.4 percentage points compared to the end of 2022, which marked the lowest level since 1982. However, it remains significantly lower than its peak in mid-2015, according to the same source.
During the fourth quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate among individuals aged 15 to 24 decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 17.5 percent, although it was higher than the previous year by 0.6 percentage points. Conversely, it increased by 0.2 percentage points among those aged 25 to 49, reaching 7 percent, 0.5 percentage points higher than the previous year.
For individuals aged 50 and over, the unemployment rate remained stable at 5 percent, with minimal change during the quarter, consistent with the level recorded in 2022. Additionally, while the unemployment rate among women decreased slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 7.4 percent, it increased slightly among men to 7.6 percent, up by 0.1 percentage points.