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Economic indicator

Unemployment in France

Unemployment is read as a rate (ILO definition, the share of the labour force without a job — the INSEE series followed here) and as a volume (jobseekers registered with France Travail, categories A, B and C — DARES).

Latest value

8.3%

Period
Q2 2026
Source
INSEE
Status
provisional figure, subject to revision by the producer
Checked on
Jobseekers, categories A/B/C
5.8 M registered — August 2026 (DARES / France Travail, provisional figure, subject to revision by the producer)

Why this indicator matters

It sheds light on the health of the labour market, social tensions and the economy's capacity to turn activity into jobs.

History, 1981–2026

Unemployment rate (ILO) — 1981 to 2026 (%)02.557.51012.51981199120012011202120261981: 6.6 %1982: 7.1 %1983: 7.4 %1984: 8.7 %1985: 9.1 %1986: 9.1 %1987: 9.2 %1988: 8.9 %1989: 8.2 %1990: 8 %1991: 8.2 %1992: 9 %1993: 10 %1994: 10.6 %1995: 10 %1996: 10.5 %1997: 10.6 %1998: 10.2 %1999: 9.9 %2000: 8.5 %2001: 7.8 %2002: 7.9 %2003: 8.5 %2004: 8.9 %2005: 8.9 %2006: 8.9 %2007: 8 %2008: 7.4 %2009: 9.1 %2010: 9.3 %2011: 9.2 %2012: 9.8 %2013: 10.3 %2014: 10.3 %2015: 10.4 %2016: 10.1 %2017: 9.4 %2018: 9.1 %2019: 8.5 %2020: 8.1 %2021: 7.9 %2022: 7.3 %2023: 7.4 %2024: 7.4 %2025: 7.7 %Q2 2026: 8.3 %8.3 (Q2 2026)
Unemployment rate (ILO), in %. Source: INSEE — Labour Force Survey (enquête Emploi en continu). The last point, Q2 2026, is the latest observation served; the values can be read by hovering over each point and in the table below.

The values, year by year

Unemployment rate (ILO), annual values in %, source INSEE — Labour Force Survey (enquête Emploi en continu)
Period%
Q2 20268.3
20257.7
20247.4
20237.4
20227.3
20217.9
20208.1
20198.5
20189.1
20179.4
201610.1
201510.4
201410.3
201310.3
20129.8
20119.2
20109.3
20099.1
20087.4
20078
20068.9
20058.9
20048.9
20038.5
20027.9
20017.8
20008.5
19999.9
199810.2
199710.6
199610.5
199510
199410.6
199310
19929
19918.2
19908
19898.2
19888.9
19879.2
19869.1
19859.1
19848.7
19837.4
19827.1
19816.6

Method and limits

  • Coverage: ILO unemployment rate, France, Mayotte included.
  • Since the release of 7 August 2026, INSEE has published the main labour market indicators for France including Mayotte. The historical series have been back-calculated to preserve their comparability.
  • Number of registered jobseekers — not to be confused with the ILO unemployment rate.
  • The data are consolidated and dated, never real-time; a provisional figure may be revised by its producer.
  • No change is mechanically attributed to a political decision: reading by period serves to place, not to judge.
MethodologySourcesRevisions logGlossary

How France EcoScan puts it into perspective

France ÉcoScan sets it against GDP, inflation and political periods to distinguish level, trend and turning points.

GDPinflationpurchasing power

Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in France today?
8.3% — Q2 2026 (INSEE, provisional figure, subject to revision by the producer). Jobseekers, categories A/B/C: 5.8 M registered, August 2026 (DARES / France Travail).
Where does this data come from?
INSEE — ILO unemployment rate, France, Mayotte included. Provisional figure, subject to revision by the producer. Last checked on 8 August 2026. The data are consolidated, never real-time.
How should this indicator be read?
It sheds light on the health of the labour market, social tensions and the economy's capacity to turn activity into jobs.

Explore the data

The observatory cross-reads this indicator with the others, on the same series, by period.

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