The unemployment rate in France climbed to 7.9% in Q4 2025, above the expected 7.8% and up from 7.7% in the previous quarter. This marks its highest level since Q3 2021, as the number of unemployed increased by 56,000 to 2.5 million, 0.6 points higher than a year earlier but still 2.6 points below its 2015 peak. By age, unemployment among 15–24-year-olds surged 2.4 points to 21.5%, rose 0.5 points to 16.0% for those aged 15–29, fell 0.2 points to 6.9% for 25–49-year-olds, and remained stable at 5.1% for those aged 50 and over. Female unemployment declined 0.1 points to 7.6%, while male unemployment rose 0.4 points to 8.1%. The employment rate for people aged 15–64 held at 69.4%, near a record high. The full-time employment rate remained stable at 57.5%, while part-time employment rose slightly to 11.8%. The activity rate reached 75.4%, its highest since records began. source: INSEE, France

Unemployment Rate in France increased to 7.90 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 7.70 percent in the third quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in France averaged 8.33 percent from 1975 until 2025, 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 February of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in France increased to 7.90 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 7.70 percent in the third quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in France is expected to be 7.80 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 7.40 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-11-13 06:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q3 7.7% 7.6% 7.6% 7.6%
2026-02-10 06:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q4 7.9% 7.7% 7.8% 7.7%
2026-05-15 05:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q1 7.9% 7.80%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 28108.00 28153.00 Thousand Sep 2025
Employment Rate 69.40 69.40 percent Dec 2025
Government Payrolls 6077.30 6060.70 Thousand Sep 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 75.40 75.20 percent Dec 2025
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.80 1.80 percent Dec 2025
Manufacturing Payrolls 2837.60 2842.90 Thousand Sep 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 27107.30 27117.90 Thousand Sep 2025
Private Non Farm Payrolls 21001.20 21030.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Population 68.44 68.25 Million Dec 2024
Productivity 101.16 100.75 points Sep 2025
Unemployment Rate 7.90 7.70 percent Dec 2025
Wages 3602.00 3493.00 EUR/Month Dec 2024
Wages in Manufacturing 122.70 122.40 points Sep 2025


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
7.90 7.70 10.70 3.20 1975 - 2025 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
France Jobless Rate Climbs to Four-Year High
The unemployment rate in France climbed to 7.9% in Q4 2025, above the expected 7.8% and up from 7.7% in the previous quarter. This marks its highest level since Q3 2021, as the number of unemployed increased by 56,000 to 2.5 million, 0.6 points higher than a year earlier but still 2.6 points below its 2015 peak. By age, unemployment among 15–24-year-olds surged 2.4 points to 21.5%, rose 0.5 points to 16.0% for those aged 15–29, fell 0.2 points to 6.9% for 25–49-year-olds, and remained stable at 5.1% for those aged 50 and over. Female unemployment declined 0.1 points to 7.6%, while male unemployment rose 0.4 points to 8.1%. The employment rate for people aged 15–64 held at 69.4%, near a record high. The full-time employment rate remained stable at 57.5%, while part-time employment rose slightly to 11.8%. The activity rate reached 75.4%, its highest since records began.
2026-02-10
France Jobless Rate Highest Since 2021
The unemployment rate in France rose slightly to 7.7% in Q3 2025, in line with market expectations and up from 7.6% in the previous quarter. This marks the highest level since Q3 2021, as the number of unemployed increased by 44 thousand to 2.4 million, bringing the rate 0.3 points higher than a year earlier but still 2.8 points below its 2015 peak. By age, unemployment among those aged 15–24 fell 0.2 points to 18.8%, while it rose 0.2 points to 7.1% for those aged 25–49 and 0.3 points to 5.1% for those aged 50 and over. By gender, female unemployment climbed 0.3 points to 7.7%, matching the male rate. The employment rate for people aged 15–64 slipped 0.1 points to 69.4%, near a record high. The full-time employment rate remained stable at 57.6%, while part-time employment held at 11.8%. The activity rate came at 75.2%, 2.4 points above its end-2019 level. Long-term unemployment and underemployment remained stable at 1.8% and 4.4%, respectively.
2025-11-13
France Jobless Rate Holds Steady at 7.5% in Q2
The unemployment rate in France was unchanged at 7.5% in Q2 2025, in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed rose by 29 thousand to 2.4 million. By age, the rate for those aged 15–24 fell 0.2 points to 19% but was 1.2 points higher than a year ago. Among those aged 25–49, it declined 0.2 points to 6.9%, though up 0.3 points year-on-year. For those aged 50 and over, the rate held steady at 4.7%, down 0.2 points from last year. By gender, female unemployment fell 0.1 points to 7.3%, while the male rate rose 0.2 points to 7.7%. Meanwhile, the employment rate for those aged 15–64 edged up 0.1 point to 69.6%, the highest since records began in 1975 and 0.5 points above last year. Full-time employment held at 57.8%, while part-time rose 0.2 points to 11.8%. Part-time’s share in total employment rose slightly to 17.7%, still 1.1 points below its end-2019 level. Labor force participation increased to 75.3%, up from 75.1% in Q1.
2025-08-08