Informations Rapides · 17 May 2023 · n° 124

In Q1 2023, the unemployment rate was stable at 7.1% ILO Unemployment and Labour Market-related indicators (Labour Force Survey results) - first quarter 2023

In Q1 2023, the number of unemployed people as defined by the International Labour Office (ILO) barely decreased over the quarter (‑7,000), and reached 2.2 million people. The ILO unemployment rate in France (excluding Mayotte) was thus stable at 7.1% of the labour force, the unemployment rate in Q4 2022 being slightly revised downwards. Over the year, it decreased by 0.3 points and stood 3.4 points below its peak level reached in Q2 2015. It is its lowest level since the Q2 2020, with the “trompe-l’oeil” fall during the first lockdown. Similar levels have been reached in Q1 2008 (7.2%) and Q1 1982 (7.1%).

Over the quarter, the unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 slightly decreased by 0.2 points, at 16.6%. It was virtually stable over the year (‑0.1 points) and stood 5.2 points below its pre-crisis level (at the end of 2019). The unemployment rate was virtually stable (‑0.1 points) over the quarter for people aged 25 to 49, at 6.4%, 0.3 points below its level a year ago. Finally, it bounced back slightly (+0.1 points) for those aged 50 or more at 5.2%, but remained below its level a year ago (‑0.3 points).

Over the quarter, the men’s unemployment rate was stable at 7.4% and the women’s unemployment rate was virtually stable (‑0.1 points) at 6.8%. A year ago, they were almost at the same level (7.4% for men, 7.3% for women).

Among the inactive people as defined by the ILO, 2.0 millions wanted a job without being considered unemployed, because they either do not seek a job or are not immediately available: they made up the halo around unemployment. This number rose again over the quarter (+62,000 after +49,000 the previous quarter). Thus, the share of halo in the population of people aged 15 to 64 increased by 0.1 points, after already a 0.1 point increase in Q4 2022, and reached 4.6%. Over the quarter, the share of halo rose by 0.5 points for those aged 15 to 24, to 6.9%, while this share was virtually stable for those aged 25 to 49 at 4.7% (‑0.1 points) and for those aged 50 to 64 at 3.0% (‑0.1 points).

Among the unemployed, 569,000 people on average in Q1 2023 declared being jobless and having been job seeking for at least one year. This number decreased barely over the quarter. Thus, the long-term unemployment rate was virtually stable (‑0.1 points) over the quarter at 1.8% of the labour force. It stood 0.4 points below its Q1 2022 level and at its lowest level since Q1 2009 (1.7%), with the exception of the “trompe-l’oeil” fall in Q2 2020 (1.4%) during the first lockdown.

On average, in Q1 2023, the employment rate of people aged 15 to 64 rose by 0.3 points to 68.6%. it stood 0.6 points above its level a year ago and at its highest since INSEE started measuring it (1975).

Over the quarter, the employment rate increased for all ages. Among young people, it rose by 0.2 points over the quarter and by 0.7 points over the year, to 35.3%, its highest level since 1990. For those aged 25 to 49, it rose by 0.3 points quarter-to-quarter to 83.0%. It stood 0.6 points above its level a year ago and at its highest since 2008. Finally, for those aged 50-64, the employment rate increased by 0.3 points over the quarter and by 1.0 point over the year, to 66.5%, its highest since INSEE started measuring it (1975).

The full-time employment rate stood at 57.2% in Q1 2023. It stood at its highest since INSEE started measuring it on a quarterly basis (2003). It was stable over the quarter and 0.6 points above its level a year ago. The part-time employment rate rose by 0.2 points over the quarter, to 11.4%, back to its Q1 2022 level and remaining below its pre-crisis level (‑0.8 points). As a result, the share of part-time employment in total employment increased by 0.1 points over the quarter, to 17.3%, 1.5 points below its pre-crisis level.

In Q1 2023, 4.4% of employed people were underemployed. This share decreased by 0.2 points over the quarter, by 0.3 points over the year and stood 1.5 points below its pre-crisis level.

On average, in Q1 2023, 16.5% of participants in the labour market (active people or in the halo around unemployment) were constrained in their labour supply, either by the absence of a job (unemployed or halo around unemployment), or in a situation of underemployment. This share was stable over the quarter and stood 0.3 points below its Q1 2022 level and 2.4 points below its pre‑crisis level.

In Q1 2023, the average number of hours worked per week and per job was 31.7 hours (seasonally-adjusted), up by 0.3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. This slight increase may be explained by the unusual lack of school holidays in early 2023 despite the fact that the number of non worked days due to sick leave higher than before the health crisis.

The permanent employment rate for people aged 15 to 64 was virtually stable (+0.1 points) over the quarter, at 50.6%. It stood 0.8 points above its pre-crisis level (at the end of 2019). The employment rate on fixed-term contract or temporary work increased by 0.1 points over the quarter, to 6.8%, back to its pre-crisis level. The self-employed employment rate and the work-study employment rate were stable over the quarter and remained above their pre-crisis level (respectively by 0.5 points and 0.6 points).

The activity rate of people aged 15 to 64 rose by 0.2 points over the quarter at 73.9%. It grew by 0.5 points over the year and by 1.1 points compared to its end of 2019 level. It stood at its highest since INSEE started measuring it (1975).

Over the quarter, the activity rate for people aged 15 to 24 was virtually stable, at 42.3% (+0.1 points), such as for those aged 25 to 49 at 88.6% (+0.1 points). Finally, for those aged 50 to 64, it rose by 0.5 points to 70.3%.

In Q1 2023, the share of young people aged 15 to 29 neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET) decreased by 0.2 points, to 12.3%, after a 0.9 point increase in the previous quarter. Despite the sharp rise in their employment rate, this share stood 0.4 points above its Q1 2022 level, as a result of the sharp decline in the share of them in training (excluding work-study students) in the same time.

Compared to the first estimate published on 14 February 2023, the ILO unemployment rate in Q4 2022 was revised downward by 0.1 points to 7.1% (which tips the rounding) and the ILO unemployment rate in Q1 2022 was revised upward by 0.1 points to 7.4%. The activity rate of people aged 15 to 64 in Q4 2022 was revised upward by 0.1 points to 73.7% and the employment rate remained unchanged at 68.3%. These slight adjustments are due on the one hand to revisions, usual at this time of the year, made to the weights of the Labour Force Survey starting in 2019 and for the following years (calibration on new population margins), and on the other hand, to the usual updating of seasonal adjustment coefficients.

The next publication, relative to Q2 2023, is scheduled for 11 August 2023 at 7:30 am.