The unemployment rate in France edged down to 8.2% in the third quarter of 2026 from 8.3% in the previous quarter, defying market expectations that it would rise to 8.4%. The number of unemployed people decreased by 47,000 quarter-on-quarter to 2.63 million, but was up by 150,000 compared with the same period last year. Among age groups, the unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 fell to 21.0% from 21.5%, while the rate for those aged 25-49 declined to 7.3% from 7.5%. For people aged 50 and over, it edged up to 5.6% from 5.5%, marking the highest level since Q1 2022. By gender, the male unemployment rate increased to 8.6% from 8.5%, while the female rate declined to 7.8% from 8.1%. Meanwhile, the employment rate for people aged 15-64 edged up to 69.1% from 69.0%, remaining 0.2 percentage points lower than a year earlier. The activity rate declined slightly to 75.3% from 75.4%, but remained 0.1 percentage points higher year-on-year. source: INSEE, France

Unemployment Rate in France decreased to 8.20 percent in the third quarter of 2026 from 8.30 percent in the second quarter of 2026. Unemployment Rate in France averaged 8.34 percent from 1975 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 10.70 percent in the first quarter of 1994 and a record low of 3.20 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 November of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in France decreased to 8.20 percent in the third quarter of 2026 from 8.30 percent in the second quarter of 2026. Unemployment Rate in France is expected to be 8.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the France Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 8.30 percent in 2027 and 8.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-07 05:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q2 8.3% 8.1% 8.2% 8.10%
2026-11-10 06:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q3 8.2% 8.3% 8.4% 8.30%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 28232.00 28267.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Employment Rate 69.00 69.30 percent Jun 2026
Government Payrolls 6064.10 6063.10 Thousand Jun 2026
Job Vacancy Rate 2.40 2.40 percent Jun 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 75.30 75.40 percent Sep 2026
Long Term Unemployment Rate 2.10 2.00 percent Jun 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 2816.20 2824.40 Thousand Jun 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 27021.10 27033.20 Thousand Jun 2026
Private Non Farm Payrolls 20931.10 20957.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Population 69.08 68.85 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 102.09 101.95 points Jun 2026
Unemployment Rate 8.20 8.30 percent Sep 2026
Wages 3693.00 3598.00 EUR/Month Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 124.70 123.80 points Jun 2026


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.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
8.20 8.30 10.70 3.20 1975 - 2026 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
France Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Falls in Q3
The unemployment rate in France edged down to 8.2% in the third quarter of 2026 from 8.3% in the previous quarter, defying market expectations that it would rise to 8.4%. The number of unemployed people decreased by 47,000 quarter-on-quarter to 2.63 million, but was up by 150,000 compared with the same period last year. Among age groups, the unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 fell to 21.0% from 21.5%, while the rate for those aged 25-49 declined to 7.3% from 7.5%. For people aged 50 and over, it edged up to 5.6% from 5.5%, marking the highest level since Q1 2022. By gender, the male unemployment rate increased to 8.6% from 8.5%, while the female rate declined to 7.8% from 8.1%. Meanwhile, the employment rate for people aged 15-64 edged up to 69.1% from 69.0%, remaining 0.2 percentage points lower than a year earlier. The activity rate declined slightly to 75.3% from 75.4%, but remained 0.1 percentage points higher year-on-year.
2026-11-10
France Jobless Rate Rises to Highest Since 2020
The unemployment rate in France rose to 8.3% in the second quarter of 2026 from 8.1% in the previous quarter, topping market forecasts of 8.2%. It was the highest level since the third quarter of 2020, with the number of unemployed people rising by 62,000 to 2.7 million. Compared with the same period last year, the jobless rate was 0.7 percentage points higher. Unemployment increased across all age groups. The rate for those aged 15-24 picked up to 21.6% from 21.2% in the previous quarter. Among those aged 25-49, it rose to 7.5% from 7.3%, reaching the highest level since Q1 2021. For people aged 50 and over, the rate increased to 5.5% from 5.2%, marking the highest level since Q1 2022. By gender, the male unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.5%, the highest level in five years, while the female unemployment rate rose to 8.2% from 7.8%. The employment rate for people aged 15-64 fell to 69.0% from 69.3%, while the activity rate edged down to 75.4% from a record of 75.5%.
2026-08-07
France Jobless Rate Hits 5-Year High
The unemployment rate in France rose to 8.1% in the first quarter of 2026, above forecasts of 7.8%, from 7.9% in the previous quarter. This marked the highest level since the first quarter of 2021, as the number of unemployed people increased by 68,000 to 2.6 million. The jobless rate was also 0.7 percentage points higher than a year earlier. By age group, unemployment among those aged 25–49 climbed to 7.3% from 6.9% in the previous quarter, and the rate for those aged 50 and over edged up to 5.2% from 5.1%, whereas unemployment among those aged 15–24 fell to 21.1% from 21.5%. By gender, the male unemployment rate rose to a five-year high of 8.5% from 8.2%, while female unemployment ticked up to 7.7% from 7.6%. Meanwhile, the employment rate for people aged 15–64 rose slightly to 69.5%, near a record high, from 69.4%. The full-time employment rate inched higher to 57.7% from 57.6%, while part-time employment was unchanged at 11.8%. The activity rate reached a new record of 75.6%.
2026-05-13