Long-term unemployment rises in northern France

In the northern part of France, 125,400 people are registered with France Travail in categories A, B, and C for at least one year, making up 49.1% of all registered individuals. This number has grown by 13.6% over the past year, a much higher increase than the overall growth of all registered job seekers.

Quarterly increase in employment registrations

In the third quarter of 2026, the North had an average of 255,320 registered individuals in categories A, B, and C, which is 2,500 more than the previous quarter and a 2.6% increase compared to the same period a year earlier. This growth is slightly higher than the 2.2% annual increase seen across the entire Hauts-de-France region.

Diverse employment statuses among registered individuals

Among the registered individuals in the North, 156,130 are in category A, meaning they had no professional activity during the month. The remaining 99,190 are in categories B or C, indicating they have had reduced activity, such as part-time work or alternating periods of employment and job searching.

Increasing duration of registration

The number of people registered for at least one year has risen from 122,370 in the second quarter to 125,400 in the third, a 2.5% increase in three months. This group now makes up 49.1% of all registered individuals, up from 44.4% a year earlier.

Strong growth in shorter-term registrations

The number of people registered for one to less than two years has grown by 18.5% compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 59,530. Those registered for two to less than three years have increased by 13.3% to 26,000, and those registered for three years or more have grown by 7.1% to 39,870.

Age-related differences in registration growth

In categories A, B, and C, the North has 154,820 registered individuals aged 25 to 49, an increase of 4% over the past year. Those under 25 have seen a 1.1% increase, totaling 41,010, while those aged 50 or older have grown by 0.3%, totaling 59,490.

Persistent employment challenges in the region

The unemployment rate in the North is estimated at 10.8% in the second quarter of 2026, according to Insee, which is higher than the 8.1% rate for the entire metropolitan France. This figure is calculated using the international definition of unemployment and differs from the count of registered individuals with France Travail.

New registration categories expand the dataset

Since January 2025, registration with France Travail has become mandatory for certain groups, including job seekers, RSA beneficiaries, young people supported by local employment agencies, and those followed by Cap Emploi. Two new categories, F and G, now identify individuals on social pathways and those awaiting orientation, respectively.

Registration duration resets with any absence

In the North, the two new categories—F and G—represent 23,794 and 12,510 people in the third quarter. These are separate from categories A, B, and C. The seniority figures for the latter categories reset to zero if a person is absent for even a single day, meaning they do not necessarily reflect a continuous period of inactivity.

October update deadline approaching

For registered individuals who need to update their status monthly, the October update is open from October 28 and must be completed by November 15, 2026. Transfers related to the update will begin on November 2, depending on the processing of the files and any banking delays.