Unemployment: the number of job seekers fell by 12.6% in 2021

The number of unemployed in category A, published on Wednesday, fell by

5.9% in France (including overseas departments-regions, excluding Mayotte) in the 4th quarter of 2021. Over the full year, this represents a decrease of

12.6% of unemployed job seekers.

Last November, a seventh consecutive monthly drop in the number of unemployed was recorded, when the country was then hit by the Delta wave of Covid-19 and that of Omicron was about to break.

The total number of people pointing to Pole Emploi and without activity (within the meaning of these statistics from the Department of Research, Studies and Statistics) therefore now stands at 3,335,600 people.

In detail, the number of job seekers thus stands at 3,335,600 for category A. It therefore fell by 5.9% over the quarter (-12.6% over one year).

For categories A, B, C, this number stands at 5,658,900. It decreased by 3.6% over this quarter and by 5.8% over one year, explains Dares in its press release published on Wednesday.

The number of people in long-term reduced activity is increasing

Strictly concerning metropolitan France, on average in the fourth quarter of 2021, the number of people registered with Pôle emploi and required to look for a job (categories A, B, C) stood at 5,368,200. Among them, 3,101,800 people are unemployed (category A) and 2,266,500 have a reduced activity (categories B, C).

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In mainland France, again, the number of job seekers in category A fell by 6.2% (-205,600) this quarter and by 13.2% over one year.

The number of people engaged in short-term reduced activity (category B) decreased by 3.6% compared to the previous quarter.

But over the same period, that of people in long-term reduced activity (category C) increased by 1.5%.

In total, the number of job seekers in categories A, B, C fell by 3.8% over this quarter (-209,600) and by 6.0% over one year.