In May 2026, the number of registered unemployed in France increased by 15,500 to reach 3,116 thousand people, offsetting the decline of 9,000 recorded in April. This rise was entirely attributable to individuals aged 25 to 49, among whom the number of registered job seekers grew by 15,500 to 1,813 thousand.
By contrast, the labour market dynamics were mixed for other age groups. Unemployment among those under 25 increased by 3,300, but this was fully offset by an equivalent drop among people aged 50 and over. Consequently, the number of registered unemployed stood at 508 thousand for those under 25 and 794 thousand for individuals aged 50 and above.
