France’s unemployment rate has risen to 8.1%.

France’s unemployment rate rose to 8.1% in the first quarter of 2026, the highest level since 2021 and a setback for President Macron’s long‑standing pledge to reduce chronic joblessness. The increase comes amid external economic shocks—including the war in Iran, a tariff dispute with the U.S., and higher oil prices—that have slowed growth and weakened business confidence. Although the labor market remains more resilient than in past downturns, the rise threatens to dull one of Macron’s key economic achievements as his term nears its end. INSEE noted that nearly half of the recent unemployment increase stems from a statistical change requiring welfare recipients to register as unemployed.

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https://www.reuters.com/business/french-unemployment-rate-rises-81-highest-since-2021-2026-05-13/