Another sharp drop in unemployment in July, the level remains very high

The decline continues. According to the Directorate of Animation and Research, Studies and Statistics (DARES), in July, for the third consecutive month, the number of job seekers in category A fell by 4.1%. There were 4,046,600 of these unemployed without activity, i.e. 174,300 less than in June. In June, the fall was -204700, and in May, -149,900.

The number of these job seekers remains exceptionally high, at 4,046,600.

La Dares notes that “the decrease in the number of job seekers in category A is mainly explained by their transition to reduced activity, so that the number of job seekers having exercised a reduced activity during the month (categories B and C) continues to increase (+129,400).

In total, the workforce in categories A, B and C is decreasing (-44,900), for the first time since March 2020.

As a reminder, in the second quarter of 2020, i.e. largely during the confinement from March 17 to May 11 - which resulted in a drop in activity, or even a complete shutdown in certain sectors such as the hotel and catering industry -, the number of people registered with Pôle emploi jumped by… 815,000 (+ 24%)!