France unemployment rate reaches highest level since 2020

The unemployment rate in France has risen to 8.3%, marking its highest level since the autumn 2020 health crisis. According to data from Insee, 2.7 million people are currently without work, an increase of 62,000 over a three-month period.

The rise is particularly evident among active workers aged 25 to 49, where the rate has climbed to 7.5%. Younger workers are also heavily impacted, with approximately one in five seeking employment without success.

Several factors contribute to this labor market degradation, including record levels of business failures in the industrial and commercial sectors. Additionally, sluggish economic growth and rising inflation—driven largely by energy costs—are placing significant pressure on household purchasing power.