Labour market at a glance in 2019 Unemployment continues to decrease

In 2019, in France, 71.7% of persons aged 15 to 64 are part of the labour force according to the International Labour Office (ILO) definition, whether they are employed or unemployed. The activity rate slightly decreases compared to 2018 (–0.2 point), after having increased continuously from 2012 to 2018 (+2.0 points). However, the share of employed people continues to rise (+0.2 point) and reaches 65.5%, its highest level since 1980. The increase in the employment rate is, in 2019, sharper for women and seniors.

Among employed people, the proportion of self-employed rises to 12.1% in 2019, reaching its highest level in the last twenty years. In 2019, the proportion of temporary employees or part-time employees decreases.

2.5 million people are unemployed according to the ILO definition and the unemployment rate averages 8.4% in 2019. This is 0.6 point less than in 2018 and 1.9 point less than in 2015. The unemployment rate sharply decreases among young people. Long-term unemployment accounts for 3.4% of the active population in 2019, down 0.3 point year-on-year.

In 2019, 1.6 million inactive people are within the halo of unemployment. In total, 9.9% of people aged 15-64 are not employed and want to work, whether they are unemployed or part of the halo of unemployment. This proportion falls by 0.4 point in 2019 and by 1.2 point compared to 2015.