Unemployment Reaches Its Highest Level in a Decade: 3.9% Increase in Q4 2024

A Historic Rise in Jobseekers
According to figures published this Monday, January 27, by the Ministry of Labor, the number of category A jobseekers—those with no activity at all—rose by 3.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024 across France (excluding Mayotte). This increase brings the total to 3.138 million people registered with France Travail, representing 117,000 additional jobseekers in just one quarter. Over the year, unemployment increased by 3.5%.

For categories A, B, and C, which include individuals engaged in part-time work, the number of jobseekers reached 5.495 million, a rise of 1.7% over the quarter and 1.8% over the year.

A Trend That Hits Young People Particularly Hard
In metropolitan France, unemployment among those under 25 rose sharply, with an 8.5% increase over the quarter. This situation is exacerbated by a decline in hiring and a surge in business bankruptcies, according to the Ministry of Labor’s research department (Dares).

These figures reflect a broader deterioration in the labor market. Last week, the Urssaf also reported a 2.4% decline in hiring declarations compared to the previous quarter.