15 February 2018
2018- n° 38The unemployment rate decreased by 0.7 points in Q4 2017 ILO Unemployment and Labour Market-related indicators (Labour Force Survey results)
- fourth quarter 2017
On average in Q4 2017, the average ILO unemployment rate in metropolitan France and the overseas departments (excluding Mayotte) stood at 8.9% of the labour force, its lowest level since early 2009. It decreased by 0.7 percentage points quarter-on-quarter, after having increased by 0.2 points in Q3 2017. Over a year, the unemployment rate fell by 1.1 points, its largest decreased since Q1 2008.
In metropolitan France, the number of unemployed decreased by 205,000 to 2.5 million people; thus, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.7 percentage points compared to Q3 2017, standing at 8.6% of the labour force. The employment rate increased by 0.6 points and the activity rate was almost stable. The unemployment rate decreased across all age groups, particularly among youths and persons aged 25 to 49.
The unemployment rate in France decreased by 0.7 points at 8.9% of active population in Q4 2017
On average in Q4 2017, the average ILO unemployment rate in metropolitan France and the overseas departments (excluding Mayotte) stood at 8.9% of the labour force, its lowest level since early 2009. It decreased by 0.7 percentage points quarter-on-quarter, after having increased by 0.2 points in Q3 2017. Over a year, the unemployment rate fell by 1.1 points, its largest decreased since Q1 2008.
In metropolitan France, the number of unemployed decreased by 205,000 to 2.5 million people; thus, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.7 percentage points compared to Q3 2017, standing at 8.6% of the labour force. The employment rate increased by 0.6 points and the activity rate was almost stable. The unemployment rate decreased across all age groups, particularly among youths and persons aged 25 to 49.
Long-term unemployment fell sharply
Among the unemployed, 1.1 million declared that they had been seeking a job for at least one year. The long-term unemployment rate stood at 3.6% of the labour force in Q4 2017. It decreased by 0.6 percentage points q-o-q and by 0.7 percentage points over a year.
graphiqueGraph1 – ILO-unemployment rate
- Estimation within +/-0.3 point of the level of unemployment rate and of its quarterly variations
- Scope: population of people living in households, people aged 15 years or more
- Source: INSEE, Labour Force Survey
tableauTable1 – ILO-unemployment rate in metropolitan France
| ILO-unemployment rate (%) | Variation in points | Thousands | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017Q3 | 2017Q4 (p) | over quarter | over year | 2017Q4 (p) | |
| Unemployed persons | 9.3 | 8.6 | –0.7 | –1.1 | 2,502 |
| 15-24 years | 21.7 | 20.7 | –1.0 | –2.8 | 567 |
| 25-49 years | 8.9 | 8.0 | –0.9 | –1.1 | 1,407 |
| 50 years and more | 6.4 | 6.1 | –0.3 | –0.5 | 529 |
| Men | 9.4 | 8.8 | –0.6 | –1.1 | 1,332 |
| 15-24 years | 22.9 | 21.4 | –1.5 | –2.9 | 323 |
| 25-49 years | 8.4 | 7.8 | –0.6 | –1.1 | 721 |
| 50 years and more | 6.9 | 6.6 | –0.3 | –0.5 | 288 |
| Women | 9.2 | 8.4 | –0.8 | –1.1 | 1,170 |
| 15-24 years | 20.2 | 19.7 | –0.5 | –2.8 | 244 |
| 25-49 years | 9.4 | 8.1 | –1.3 | –1.2 | 686 |
| 50 years and more | 5.8 | 5.7 | –0.1 | –0.4 | 240 |
| Long-term unemployed persons | 4.2 | 3.6 | –0.6 | –0.7 | 1,056 |
- (p) = provisional results
- Scope : population of people living in households, people aged 15 years or more in metropolitan France
- Source: INSEE, Labour Force Survey
In metropolitan France, among inactive people as defined by the ILO, 1.5 million persons wished to work without being considered as unemployed according to the ILO definition: they made up the halo of unemployment. After a fall of 65 000 in Q3 2017, their number rose by 77,000 in Q4 2017 and was almost steady year-on-year (+12,000).
graphiqueGraph2 – People in the halo of unemployment
- Scope: population of people living in households in metropolitan France, people aged 15 years or over
- Source: INSEE, Labour Force Survey
The employment rate increased by 0.6 percentage points compared to Q3 2017
The employment rate of the population aged 15-64 years stood at 65.7%, its highest level since the early 1980s. It increased by 0.6 percentage points compared Q3 2017, and by 1.0 percentage points y-o-y. It increased across all age groups, particularly among youths and persons aged 50 to 64.
The full-time equivalent employment rate stood at 60.9% in Q4 2017. It rose by 0.6 percentage points q-o-q, and by 1.1 percentage points over a year.
Full-time employment rate stood at 53.9% in Q4 2017. It increased by 0.7 percentage points compared to Q3 2017, and by 1.0 percentage points over a year. Part-time employment rate stood at 11.8%, a ratio close to its Q3 2017 (−0.1 points) and Q4 2016 level (+0.1 points).
Permanent employment rate for people aged 15 to 64 increased by 0.2 percentage points to 49.1% in Q4 2017. It rose by 0.5 percentage points over a year. Fixed-term and temporary employment rate stood at 8.1%. It rose by 0.3 percentage points quarter-on-quarter and by 0.6 percentage points compared to Q4 2016.
tableauTable2 – ILO employment rate in the population aged 15-64 years
| % of people in the age group | Variation in points over | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017Q3 | 2017Q4 (p) | quarter | year | |
| Employed people | 65.1 | 65.7 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| Men | 68.8 | 69.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
| Women | 61.5 | 62.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| 15-24 years | 29.1 | 29.8 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
| 25-49 years | 80.6 | 81.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| 50-64 years | 61.3 | 62.2 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| Included : 55-64 years | 51.1 | 52.2 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
| Permanent employment | 48.9 | 49.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Fixed-term and temporary employment | 7.8 | 8.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| Full-time employment | 53.2 | 53.9 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| Part-time employment | 11.9 | 11.8 | –0.1 | 0.1 |
| Full-time equivalent employment rate | 60.3 | 60.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
- (p) = provisional results
- Scope: population of people living in households in metropolitan France, people aged 15-64 years
- Source: INSEE, Labour Force Survey
graphiqueGraph3 – Employment rate by age group
- Scope: population of people living in households in metropolitan France, people aged 15-64 years
- Source: INSEE, Labour Force Survey
Underemployment decreased
In Q4 2017, 5.6% of the employed persons were underemployed, which mainly concerns people who have a part-time job and wish to work more. This ratio decreased by 0.5 percentage points compared to Q3 2017, and by 0.6 percentage points year on year.
The activity rate was almost steady in Q4 2017
The activity rate of people aged 15-64 stood at 72.0% in Q4 2017, slightly above its Q3 2017 level (+0.1 percentage points). It increased by 0.3 percentage points compared to Q4 2016.
tableauTable3 – ILO activity rate in the population aged 15-64 years
| % of people in the age group | Variation in points over | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017Q3 | 2017Q4 (p) | quarter | year | |
| Active people | 71.9 | 72.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| Men | 76.1 | 76.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| Women | 67.8 | 68.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 15-24 years | 37.1 | 37.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 25-49 years | 88.4 | 88.0 | –0.4 | –0.1 |
| 50-64 years | 65.6 | 66.4 | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| Included : 55-64 years | 54.6 | 55.7 | 1.1 | 1.6 |
- (p) = provisional results
- Scope: population of people living in households in metropolitan France, people aged 15-64 years
- Source: INSEE, Labour Force Survey
Revisions
The ILO unemployment rate in Q2 and Q3 2017 has been downgraded by 0.1 percentage points compared to the provisional estimate published on 16 November 2017. From next release, results of the Labour Force Survey will not include those of the survey of non-respondents (see Abbreviated Methodology).
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