France Sees Sharpest Rise in Unemployment in a Decade

Unemployment increased by 3.9% in late 2024, with young workers hit hardest as job creation slows and company failures rise.

The number of job seekers in France rose by 3.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking the steepest increase in unemployment in ten years outside of the COVID-19 crisis.
Youth unemployment surged by 8.5% in the same period, driven by fewer job openings and a wave of business bankruptcies.
The total number of unemployed individuals in Category A (no activity) reached 3.138 million, with an annual increase of 3.5%.
Including those with reduced activity (Categories A, B, and C), the number of registered job seekers climbed to 5.495 million, a 1.7% quarterly rise.
Economic experts predict further unemployment growth in 2025, citing reduced hiring, policy uncertainty, and declining apprenticeship support.