France’s Unemployment Rises 1.6% in Third Quarter, 7.6% Year-on-Year
By Laurenz VDS — CryptoNewsHub
France, New York – October 31, 2025
France’s unemployment rate rose again in the third quarter of 2025, signaling continued challenges in the national labor market. According to data from the Ministry of Labor’s Department of Studies and Statistics (Dares), the number of job seekers registered in Category A — those with no professional activity — increased by 1.6% compared to the previous quarter and by 7.6% over the past year.
A Gradual but Persistent Rise
The report, released Tuesday, October 28, and cited by AFP, indicates that 3.26 million people were registered on average with France Travail (formerly Pôle Emploi) during the third quarter. This marks a steady increase in unemployment figures throughout 2025, reflecting ongoing economic uncertainty, rising costs, and slower job creation across several sectors.
Despite modest growth in certain industries such as energy transition and technology, many companies have reported tightening recruitment budgets due to inflationary pressures and cautious consumer spending.
Impact of New Registration and Sanctions Policies
However, Dares clarified that the rise is not solely linked to economic slowdown. Part of the increase stems from automatic registration of new beneficiaries of the Revenu de Solidarité Active (RSA) — France’s minimum income benefit — and young people entering professional integration programs.
“Without these new registrants, the number of unemployed in Category A would have risen by only 0.7% this quarter and 6.3% year-on-year,” the report states.
Additionally, the sharp drop in deregistrations also contributed to the apparent rise in unemployment figures. Following the introduction of a new sanctions regime in early June, the number of job seekers removed from the rolls due to administrative reasons plummeted.
Fewer Write-Offs Skewing the Data
According to the Ministry of Labor, only 2,000 write-offs per month were recorded in the third quarter — a stark contrast to the 45,000 per month seen at the beginning of 2025. This policy shift, designed to make the system fairer and more transparent, has nevertheless had a statistical impact on unemployment totals.
“Without this reduction in write-offs, the number of registrants in Category A would have decreased by around 1% during the quarter,” the ministry explained, adding that these adjusted figures “better reflect the actual state of the labor market.”
Economic Context and Outlook
France’s labor market has shown resilience over the past two years, but persistent inflation and slower industrial growth have started to weigh on job creation. Economists say the recent uptick in unemployment should be viewed in light of policy changes and seasonal employment trends.
Still, analysts warn that if job creation does not pick up in the fourth quarter, the annual unemployment increase could surpass expectations for 2025. The government is expected to present a new employment action plan before the end of the year, focusing on digital training, green jobs, and regional labor mobility.
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