France Faces Persistent Employment Challenges Amid Socioeconomic Inequality

Recent analyses reveal that France's employment issues are complex and deeply tied to persistent socioeconomic inequalities. According to economist Alexandra Roulet, despite claims that the French "do not work enough," the real problem lies in high youth unemployment and low employment rates among seniors aged 60-64, with only 45% employed compared to 65% in Germany. Less educated workers have seen a dramatic 40% decline in working hours over 30 years, contributing to the average French worker putting in 100 hours less annually than European peers and 300 hours less than Americans. This reduction impacts social contributions and fiscal revenues, threatening funding for social services and investments. Furthermore, workplace dissatisfaction is high, underscored by rigid management and a significant rate of workplace accidents, which partly explains the strong opposition to pension reform in 2023. Complementing this analysis, the Comité économique, social et environnemental (Cese) report presented by Fabienne Rouchy highlights that "equality of opportunity" remains largely a myth in France. The report underscores growing pessimism, accentuated social determinism, and stark gender wage gaps—women earn 14% less than men on average and 23.5% less in the private sector. Territorial disparities exacerbate inequalities, with access to employment, healthcare, and public services particularly limited in regions affected by industrial decline, rural areas, and overseas territories. It takes six generations on average for someone from a working-class background to reach the middle class, showing entrenched barriers to social mobility. Together, these findings paint a picture of a labor market where many are excluded from professional opportunities, highlighting the need for targeted reforms to address both employment levels and structural inequalities.