LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in France

France: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 10.76 in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
10.76
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
29th
of 89 countries
All-time high
13.37
in 1998
All-time low
9.27
in 2008
Years of data
27
1998–2024

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in France, 1998–2024

0510151998201120241998: 13.41999: 13.22000: 11.52001: 9.92002: 10.12003: 10.42004: 112005: 10.92006: 10.82007: 102008: 9.32009: 11.12010: 11.32011: 11.32012: 11.92013: 11.62014: 13.22015: 13.32016: 132017: 12.32018: 11.92019: 11.32020: 11.62021: 11.52022: 10.62023: 10.72024: 10.8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2024, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in France stood at 10.76.

The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 18.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in France peaked at 13.37 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 9.27, in 2008.

France ranks 29th of 89 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in France, year by year

Annual values for LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in France, 1998 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1998 13.37
1999 13.19 -1.4%
2000 11.54 -12.5%
2001 9.92 -14.1%
2002 10.11 +1.9%
2003 10.39 +2.8%
2004 11.05 +6.3%
2005 10.87 -1.6%
2006 10.85 -0.2%
2007 9.95 -8.3%
2008 9.27 -6.9%
2009 11.09 +19.7%
2010 11.27 +1.6%
2011 11.32 +0.4%
2012 11.88 +5.0%
2013 11.6 -2.4%
2014 13.18 +13.6%
2015 13.3 +0.9%
2016 13.04 -2.0%
2017 12.34 -5.3%
2018 11.94 -3.3%
2019 11.27 -5.6%
2020 11.63 +3.2%
2021 11.52 -0.9%
2022 10.63 -7.7%
2023 10.67 +0.4%
2024 10.76 +0.8%

France compared with similar countries

  • France's 10.76 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.45, 1.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • France's 10.76 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.71, 1.2× the median. (41 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 13.28 13.19 13.37 2
2000s 10.5 9.27 11.54 10
2010s 12.11 11.27 13.3 10
2020s 11.04 10.63 11.63 5

Countries ranked near France

  1. 26 Luxembourg 11.47 compare
  2. 27 Estonia 11.3 compare
  3. 28 Greece 10.82 compare
  4. 30 Honduras 10.51 compare
  5. 31 Brazil 10.33 compare
  6. 32 Serbia 10.23 compare

See the full ranking of 89 places →

More work & labour data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in France?
Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in France was 10.76 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 13.37 in 1998.
What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 9.27 in 2008.
How does France rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
France ranks 29th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this France data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in France. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu3-combined-rate-of-unemployment-and-potential-labour-force-previous-ilo-definition/france/

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About this data

Indicator
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
89 places, 1,503 data points, 1987–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.