
The number of people registered with France Travail increased in the third quarter, reaching 3.35 million in category A, a trend partly linked to the law for full employment.
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The law for full employment passed at the end of 2023 requires all RSA recipients to register with France Travail.
The job market remains depressed in France. This Wednesday, the public employment agency, France Travail, disclosed the figures for the third quarter. Whatever indicator is chosen, the trend is worrying. Thus, the number of people registered in category A, that is to say having no activity, stands at around 3.35 million. That is 30,400 more people over the last three months (+0.9%). Over one year, their number jumped by 2.1%. Same situation for the aggregate bringing together all people required to look for work (categories A, B and C), the number of which increased by 0.8% in the third quarter and by 2.4% over one year.
The statistical service of the Ministry of Labor (Dares) calls for taking these figures with hindsight. “These developments are affected by the effects of the law for full employment and therefore do not reflect economic developments,” he wrote in his press release. Passed at the end of 2023, this law now requires all RSA recipients to register with France Travail. The government hopes to facilitate their return to employment. The only downside is that this reform had a notable impact on the indicators. Still, this law does not alone explain the current bad trend. “Since April 2026, it is estimated that the decree relating to the sanctions applicable to those registered with France Travail no longer has a significant impact on changes in the number of registered members from month to month but still affects changes over a year,” recognizes Dares.

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