Rhone sees rise in job seekers

In the Rhône and Lyon metropolitan area, the number of people registered with France Travail in categories A, B, and C increased by 4.3% over the past year. Nearly 45% of those affected have been registered for at least one year, and the Rhône recorded the highest annual increase in the region.

Numbers show seasonal and annual trends

During the third quarter of 2026, 163,910 people were registered with France Travail in these categories, a rise significantly higher than that observed across the entire Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The increase reached 1.1% over three months and 4.3% over twelve months, in seasonally adjusted and working-day adjusted data.

Regional comparison highlights growth

The Rhône, whose figures also cover the Lyon metropolitan area, thus shows the highest annual increase in categories A, B, and C among the departments of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. At the regional level, their number increased by 1.7% over the past year and by 0.3% over the quarter, as detailed in the updated regional Dreets report from October 28.

Breakdown of employment status

Among the Rhône registered individuals required to seek employment, 93,990 had not engaged in any activity during the reference period (category A). The other 69,920 worked in the context of reduced, short-term, or long-term activity (categories B and C). The number of registered individuals without activity increased by 4.2% over the past year.

Impact spans multiple age groups

The increase affects several generations. Those under 25 years old are 23,930 in categories A, B, and C, an increase of 4.9% in a year. The same annual increase is observed among those aged 25-49, totaling 103,060. Among those aged 50 and over, 36,920 are registered, an increase of 2.5%.

Longer registration periods noted

Nearly 45% of the registered individuals have been registered for at least one year. The duration of registration represents another significant change. The Rhône has 72,930 individuals registered for twelve months or more, compared to 65,550 in the third quarter of 2025. Their number increased by 11.3% in a year, while the number of those registered for less than twelve months decreased slightly, by 0.6%.

Long-term registration trends

The share of long-term registrations now reaches 44.5% of categories A, B, and C, compared to 41.7% a year earlier. Among these individuals, 22,650 have been registered for at least three years. The duration is calculated based on continuous presence in categories A, B, and C: an interruption, even brief, resets this statistical counter.

Update deadlines and procedures

The October update: until November 15 for those affected. For residents followed by France Travail and subject to monthly updates, the October situation declaration has been open since October 28 and ends on November 15, 2026. The official France Travail calendar indicates that payments corresponding to October benefits can begin as early as November 2, depending on the processing of the file and banking delays.

New categories and upcoming data

The quarterly figures should also be read in the light of the systematic registration of new groups since January 2025. In the Rhône, 12,621 people are in category F, dedicated to social pathways, and 8,857 in category G, awaiting orientation. These categories are counted separately from the 163,910 registered individuals required to seek employment. The next departmental publication is scheduled for January 28, 2027.