The following is an unedited transcript of the news release from the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies.


The ILO unemployment rate

The average ILO unemployment rate for Q4 2007 in metropolitan France and overseas departments was 7.8% of the active population. In metropolitan France only, it stood at 7.5%, i.e., 2.1 million people. It went down by 0.3 point compared to the revised Q3 2007.

Additional indicators

More generally, in metropolitan France, 2.7 million people do not work but would like to work, whether they are available or not for work within two weeks, or whether they look actively for a job or not. Among employed people, 5.6% were under-employed during Q4 2007, i.e, 1.4 million people.

ILO Employment, unemployment and activity as defined in the population of 15 years or more

On average, the employment rate over Q4 2007 in the population aged 15-64 years was 64.8% and the activity rate in the population aged 15-64 years 70.1%. The employment rate has increased since mid-2006. It edged down throughout 2005.


Available at:

http://www.insee.fr/en/indicateur/indic_conj/indconj_frame.asp?ind_id=14