The situation of employment in France has a worrying deterioration. According to the latest figures published on January 27, 2025 by the Ministry of Labor, the number of job seekers without activity (category A) jumped 3.9 % in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter. This represents 117,000 additional unemployed, bringing the total to 3.1 million people, a level that had not been observed for a decade, outside the COVID-19 period.
Highly increasing unemployment in France: an alert on the job market
This marked increase is explained by several factors. Economically, GDP growth in 2024, although 1.1 % estimated by INSEE, slowed down at the end of the year, with stagnation in the last quarter. In addition, the end of post-Cavid aid caused an increase in business failures, reaching 65,764 cases over the year (+16.8 %). Some large companies in France, such as Michelin or Casino, have also carried out social plans, accentuating pressure on the job market.
Young people are particularly affected by this degradation. Indeed, the number of job seekers under the age of 25 increased by 8.5 % in the last quarter of 2024, a consequence of enrollment adjustments by companies, where precarious contracts, often occupied by young people, are The first affected. Political uncertainty in France, especially since the dissolution of the National Assembly, has also weighed on hirings and investments, amplifying this trend.
An environment stretched in 2025
This rise in unemployment In France intervenes in a context of tense budgetary discussions for 2025. The government plans to reduce certain employment aid, such as exemptions from social contributions or the prime to learning, which worries employer organizations. The MEDEF has alerted to the risks for the competitiveness of companies, calling to avoid any measure weighing the cost of labor.
With an unemployment rate currently at 7.4 %, INSEE therefore provides for an increase to 7.6 % by mid-2010, while the Banque de France anticipates 7.8 % by the end of 2025. Economists, this rebound is an alarm signal, requiring rapid and concerted measures to avoid worsening the situation in France, especially for young people and the most precarious employees.
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