France jobseekers category C: long activity
France jobseekers category C: long activity stood at 1,640,700 persons in Aug 2026, according to DARES – Direction de l'animation de la recherche, des études et des statistiques (Ministère du Travail). It is one of the indicators in the Registered jobseekers (DARES) table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1996 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Registered jobseekers (DARES) table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories A, B and C (required to seek work) | 5,828,500 | 5,835,800 | 5,806,000 | 5,823,700 | 5,774,800 | 5,766,600 | 5,701,100 | 5,716,400 | 5,748,800 | 5,747,800 | |
| Category C (long reduced activity, over 78 hours) | 1,640,700 | 1,612,000 | 1,594,600 | 1,618,300 | 1,589,300 | 1,585,800 | 1,566,900 | 1,571,300 | 1,576,300 | 1,570,200 | |
| Category A (no work at all) | 3,296,100 | 3,357,300 | 3,333,000 | 3,326,000 | 3,310,000 | 3,316,300 | 3,279,200 | 3,289,700 | 3,323,400 | 3,331,000 |
Understanding france jobseekers category C: long activity
This series counts registered jobseekers who engaged in extended reduced professional activity, defined as working more than seventy-eight hours during the reference month, while still required to actively search for work. The inclusion criteria capture individuals with substantial part-time hours or extensive temporary assignments who maintain their registration status to secure permanent or full-time positions, while excluding those with fewer hours or no work at all. This metric distinguishes substantial underemployment from minor short-term work and absolute joblessness, providing insight into individuals who are partially integrated into the workforce yet still seeking primary employment.
Interpreting this series requires accounting for seasonal variations in contract labor and temporary staffing arrangements that peak during specific calendar periods. Period-on-period comparisons help track immediate adjustments in part-time utilization, though year-on-year metrics are necessary to filter out structural shifts in labor legislation. A major pitfall is treating this cohort as fully employed, because their hours remain insufficient or precarious, prompting their continued presence on the official jobseeker registers.
Frequently asked questions
- How does the hour threshold for this group differ from other reduced activity categories?
- This category specifically captures individuals whose monthly work hours exceed seventy-eight, placing them above the short activity threshold.
- Are these individuals still mandated to accept suitable full-time job offers?
- Yes, maintaining registration requires ongoing availability and search compliance despite their significant monthly work hours.
- Why do workers with substantial hours remain registered as jobseekers?
- They often seek stable, full-time contracts or higher wages to replace precarious or insufficient part-time arrangements.