The number of people without activity registered with Pôle Emploi has further decreased by 114,000 in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to figures published this Wednesday.
by Thibaud Métais
After a short stagnation, the drop in the number of job seekers resumed its course. A news more than welcome to the government, which, despite an uncertain situation, has full employment – an unemployment rate around 5 % of the active population – the objective of the five -year term.
According to the statistics broadcast on Wednesday, January 25, by Pôle Emploi and the Directorate of Research Animation, Studies and Statistics, which depends on the Ministry of Labor, the number of job seekers without any activity ( Category a) experienced a clear decrease in the fourth quarter of 2022, by 3.6 %, to stand at 3.049 million people throughout the territory (overseas included, except Mayotte) against 3.164 million in the third quarter . Or a drop of 114,000 in the fourth quarter. Over one year, the workforce in this category, the most scrutinized, fell 9.3 %, or 312,000 less people. 2>
Improvement of the senior employment rate
The downside of the fourth quarter is much less important if we add job seekers in reduced activity (category B and C). Thus, the number of people registered with Pôle Emploi and held to seek a job (categories a, b and c) amounts to 5.394 million people, down 0.8 % compared to the previous quarter, but 5, 5, 1 % over a year. The 5.4 million bar has been decreasing for the first time since 2014.
Thanks to this important reflux, the workforce in category A has never been so low since 2011. “full employment is also the right job. We are continuing our mobilization,” said the Minister of Labor , Olivier Dussopt, on Twitter , Wednesday.
All age groups benefit from this favorable situation, especially those under 25 ( – 9.8 % over a year in mainland France), but also, and it is one of the crucial issues of the reform of pensions, seniors. The number of job seekers in category A over 50 years of age dropped by 8.9 % over one year. Improving the employment rate of seniors started about twenty years ago continues.
The labor market therefore continues to resist the current economic situation. “We are surprised by these results, but we have been for three years now, explains Gilbert this, professor of economics at the Neoma Business School. We could have expected that the situation deteriorates while the prospects for growth are not staggering. “