The halo of unemployment is made up of inactive people who are not counted as unemployed as defined by the International Labour Office but whose situation is very similar. This halo was made up of 1.4 million people in 2015 (against 2.9 million unemployed). It was relatively stable between 2003 and 2008, but increased steadily as the crisis progressed. However, it is less closely linked to fluctuations in economic activity than the number of unemployed. The halo is similar to unemployment in terms of its socio-demographic structure, but there is a difference: it includes more women. Like the unemployed, people who find themselves in the halo have a very wide range of career paths and profiles. Some who have a relatively high level of qualifications are in the halo of unemployment as a temporary measure. They frequently move into unemployment, and into work. Others, with fewer qualifications, are more often discouraged in their job search. Finally, there are people in the unemployment halo who have moved away from the labour market for long-term reasons or reasons linked with difficulties in taking on a job (studies, motherhood, caring for children or a dependant, illness, disability).