The unemployment rate in France for the second quarter has fallen below 10% for the first time since 2012 according to the French statistical body INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.)

INSEE data shows that unemployment on mainland France and its overseas territories fell to 9.9% in the second quarter, from 10.2% in the previous quarter. It was the lowest level since just after French President Francois Hollande took office in 2012.

Unemployment in France has declined more slowly than in most leading European economies, as a gradual recovery in economic growth and job creation is offset by the number of young people entering the labour force every year.

Unemployment was down in all age categories, but the fall in youth unemployment was sharper: it fell 0.4 points to 24.3% compared to the previous quarter, the lowest since 2014.

Permanent employment rate for people aged 15-64 stood at 48.8% in Q2 2016, as in previous quarter. It increased by 0.2 percentage points year-on-year. Fixed-term and temporary employment rate stood at 7.4%. It increased slightly (+0.1 percentage points) compared to the previous quarter and over the year.