According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), the unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 points in 2015 in France, reaching 10% of the active population.
Pôle emploi, however, recorded more unemployed individuals on December 31, 2015, than the previous year, with a 2.6% increase for a total of 3.5 million job seekers without any activity.
This discrepancy is not new. For years, the statistics of these two organizations have significantly diverged, both in terms of the number of unemployed and the trend.
The two organizations calculate unemployment figures differently. These are the only internationally recognized data.
The question naturally arises: Why make it complicated when it can be simple? And why not use a single, unified calculation method adopted by everyone?
Is it yet another famous French exception, so dear to the patriotic “cocoricos” of the country?
Two Definitions of Unemployment
INSEE/BIT Definition
According to the explanations provided on Insee’s website, an unemployed person is someone of working age, 15 years or older, who simultaneously meets three conditions: – being without a job, meaning not having worked even an hour during a reference week, – being available to start work within 15 days, – having actively looked for a job in the previous month or having found one that starts within less than three months.
Pôle emploi Definition
For Pôle emploi, an unemployed person is someone registered on their lists. Who can access it? According to the organization’s website: “Any person looking for a job, residing on the national territory, and having access to the labor market can register with Pôle emploi if they meet the registration conditions, declare their residence, and provide one of the required identity documents (foreign nationals under the general regime must also hold a residence and work permit allowing for registration).”
