Unemployment insurance: the French are rather in favor of tougher rules, according to a survey

These results come from a barometer on the perception of unemployment and employment, which Unedic, the organization which manages unemployment insurance, commissions each year. However, the survey also reveals that few people questioned are aware of the system.

The figures for this 2023 edition show that for almost one in two French people, the duration of compensation for job seekers is too long. This is enough to reassure Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of the Economy who is proposing to shorten it, particularly for seniors. Another lesson from this survey is that 40% of respondents believe that the amount of compensation paid is too high, which would create a barrier to returning to employment.

They therefore believe that the system is too generous, even though in reality, the French do not know the system well. When asked a little more precisely, barely more than a third are able to say how much a job seeker earns on average.

The French view is often tinged with suspicion towards job seekers. Half believe that the unemployed are somewhat responsible for their situation and one in two also think that most of the unemployed are not really looking for a job.

A look at less severe unemployment

However, this judgment is not new and it has even softened slightly this year compared to previous barometers. According to the survey, the French are a little less critical because they consider that the job market is deteriorating, which leads them to be a little less harsh.

Unemployment is no longer the primary concern of the French as in the 2010s, but the barometer highlights a certain pessimism and a fairly gloomy perception of the job market. It is difficult to prove them wrong since in recent months, the unemployment rate has been rising and with the slowdown in activity, it should increase further next year.

In addition, Pôle emploi will undergo a transformation, because, from January 1, it will become France Travail. With this change, the government wants to create a one-stop shop for employment which will accommodate all the unemployed, but also all RSA recipients. They will therefore have to register and complete around fifteen hours of activity or training per week.

This measure also promises to mechanically raise the unemployment curve since there will be more people registered. However, with France Travail, the executive hopes on the contrary to achieve full employment at the end of the five-year term.