Informations Rapides · 17 May 2022 · n° 127

In Q1 2022, the unemployment rate was virtually stable at 7.3% ILO Unemployment and Labour Market-related indicators (Labour Force Survey results) - first quarter 2022

In Q1 2022, the number of unemployed people decreased by 18,000 over the quarter, and reached 2.2 million people. The ILO unemployment rate in France (excluding Mayotte) was virtually stable (–0,1 points) at 7.3% of the labour force, after a 0.6 point drop in the previous quarter. It decreased by 0.8 points over the year, and stood 0.9 points below its pre-crisis level (at the end of 2019). It was at its lowest level since 2008, with the exception of the “trompe-l’oeil” drop in the spring of 2020 due to first lockdown.

Over the quarter, the unemployment rate bounced back slightly for people aged 15 to 24 (+0.3 points), at 16.3%, after a sharp drop in the previous quarter (–3.5 points). It decreased by 0.2 points for those aged 25 to 49 to 6.6%, and was virtually stable (–0.1 points) for those aged 50 or more at 5.6%.

Over the quarter, the men’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 points, to 7.3%, and reached the women’s unemployment rate, which was stable quarter-to-quarter. Over the year, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 points for women and by 1.1 points for men.

Among the inactive people as defined by the ILO, 1.8 million (4.4% of people aged 15 to 64) wanted a job without being considered unemployed, because they either do not seek a job or are not immediately available: they made up the halo around unemployment. The share of halo in the population was virtually stable quarter-to-quarter (–0.1 points) and stood 0.4 points below its previous year level. Over the quarter, the share of halo in the 15-24 years old population dropped by 0.4 points at 6.1 % while it was virtually stable at 4.6% (–0.1 points) for those aged 25 to 49 to and stable at 3.0% for those aged 50 to 64.

Among the unemployed, 700 000 people declared being jobless and having been job seeking for at least one year in Q1 2022. The long-term unemployment rate stood at 2.2% of the labour force. It was stable over the quarter after a 0.2 point decrease in the previous quarter.

On average, in Q1 2022, the employment rate of people aged 15 to 64 increased by 0.2 points to 68.0%. Following the increases in the previous quarters, it stood 1.3 points above its level one year ago and at its highest since INSEE started measuring it (1975).

Over the quarter, the employment rate grew by 0.7 points for those aged 15-24 and reached 34.6%, its highest level since 1991. For those aged 25-49, it rose by 0.2 points to 82.5%, its highest level since early 2009. Finally, for those aged 50-64, the employment rate was stable quarter-to-quarter at 65.5%, its highest-ever level.

In Q1 2022, the share of underemployment in employment decreased by 0.3 points to 4.7%. This share stood 1.2 points below its pre-crisis level, at its lowest since 1992. This drop reflects the one of part-time workers wishing to work more hours and available to do so, who represent the bulk of underemployment. Meanwhile, the share of people who involuntarily worked less than usual (which include partial activity) decreased by 0.1 points over the quarter, to 0.2%, and returned to its pre-crisis level for the first time.

Overall, in Q1 2022, 16.8% of participants in the labour market (active people or in the halo around unemployment) were constrained in their labour supply, either by the absence of a job (unemployed or halo around unemployment), or in a situation of underemployment. This share fell by 0.4 points over the quarter, and stood at its lowest level since 1991.

In Q1 2022, the average number of hours worked per week and per job rose by 3.0% to 31.4 hours, very close to its level at the end of 2019 (31.5 hours). Compared to the usual pre-crisis level, the high number of non worked days due to sick leave because of the health crisis (delta and omicron waves) lowered the average number of hours worked. On the other hand, the unusual lack of school holidays in early 2022 increased it.

The full-time employment rate stood at 56.6% in Q1 2022. It grew by 0.3 points over the quarter and by 1.8 points over the year. On the other hand, the part-time employment rate was virtually stable over the quarter (–0.1 points) and decreased by 0.5 points over the year. As a result, the share of part-time employment in total employment decreased by 0.1 points over the quarter, to 17.5%, 0.9 points below its level one year ago. In Q1 2022, it was at its lowest level since early 2003.

The permanent employment rate for people aged 15 to 64 dropped by 0.3 points over the quarter to 49.6%. It remained close to its pre-crisis level (–0.2 points). The employment rate on fixed-term contract or temporary work rose by 0.2 points over the quarter to 7.2%, after a 0.3 point increase in the previous quarter. It was 0.4 points above its pre-crisis level. The self-employed employment rate grew by 0.3 points over the quarter to 8.6%, 0.6 points above its pre-crisis level. In the meantime, the work-study employment rate remained stable over the quarter, at 2.2%, 0.6 points above its pre-crisis level.

The activity rate of people aged 15 to 64 rose by 0.2 points over the quarter, to 73.4%, after a decline of the same level in the previous quarter. Thus, it was back to its peak level reached in Q3 2021.

The growth over the quarter was stronger among young people. The activity rate for people aged 15 to 24 rose by 1.0 point, to 41.3%, its highest level since 1992. It was virtually stable for people aged 25 to 49 (+0.1 points), at 88.4%, as well as those aged 50-64 (–0.1 points) at 69.4%. Over the year, the activity rate for young people rose by 2.8 points while the increase was much more subdued for middle-aged people and oldest people (+0.4 points).

In Q1 2022, the share of young people aged 15 to 29 neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET) dropped by 0.5  points to 11.8%, and returned to its Q3 2021 level. This share decreased by 1.6 points over the year and stood 0.5 points below its pre-crisis level.

Compared to the first estimate published on February 18, 2022, the ILO unemployment rate in Q4 2021 remained unchanged at 7.4%.

The employment rate remained unchanged at 67.8% and the activity rate was revised downwards by 0.1 points to 73,2%, due to the usual updating of seasonal adjustment coefficients.

The next publication, relative to Q2 2022, is scheduled for 12 August 2022 at 7:30 am.