This was the great success of Macron's first five-year term: a continued decline in unemployment.
But the machine is starting to stall.
Rising since the start of 2023, the unemployment rate remained stable, at 7.5% of the active population in France (excluding Mayotte) in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to figures published Tuesday by INSEE.
That is, a figure 0.4 points higher than its level at the end of 2022, which was the lowest since 1982. In short, the good momentum is running out of steam, even if unemployment remains significantly below its peak in mid-2015 ( 10.5%).
A continued increase in job seekers
In detail, the situation of 15-24 year olds improved slightly during the quarter.
The share of unemployed people in this age group fell by 0.2 points, even if youth unemployment remains at a very high level (17.5%).
Likewise, seniors benefit from a very slight improvement (-0.1 point, at 5%).
Conversely, the core of the active population, 25-49 year olds, is seeing their situation deteriorate.
The number of workers looking for work increases by 0.2 points…
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