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Unemployment Benefits in New Caledonia

New Caledonia has its own unemployment insurance, paid by CAFAT: 75% of the monthly minimum wage (SMG) in the general case, for 9 to 14 months depending on age.

✓ From official pages   ✓ Each part says when we checked

At a glance

Total unemployment allowance (Allocation de chômage total)

CAFAT

25 71 10

CAFAT, help with the Espace Assurés online account

Apply on the official site

The job market in New Caledonia

11.2%
unemployed, 2025
33.1%
of 15 to 24-year-olds
11%
a year earlier: it has risen

The International Labour Organization's estimates put New Caledonia 154th lowest of 183 countries for unemployment in 2025; the world's rate was 4.9%.

New Caledonia's unemployment rate over the years · every country, ranked

What to do first

  1. Apply for Total unemployment allowance (Allocation de chômage total): apply to CAFAT once the job has ended, within three months (four months for residents of the Islands). Official page
  2. Keep up with the job-search rule while you claim (below), and keep a record of where you applied.
  3. Questions: call 25 71 10 (CAFAT, help with the Espace Assurés online account).

Total unemployment allowance (Allocation de chômage total)

Who can get it. Employees who paid CAFAT contributions for at least 9 months and worked at least 1,521 hours in the 12 months before their contract ended.

How much. In the general case, 75% of the monthly SMG; otherwise 75% of the average salary of the last 3 months.

For how long. 9 months (270 days) under 50; 12 months (360 days) from 50 to 55; 14 months (420 days) over 55, up to the legal retirement age.

How to claim. Apply to CAFAT once the job has ended, within three months (four months for residents of the Islands).

From an official page, read October 25, 2026.

Looking for work while you claim

The claimant must renew their job seeker status to keep receiving the allowance.

From an official page, read October 25, 2026.

Keep my work search record for New Caledonia

Free. It lists where you applied and what else you did to look for work, each line ready to copy into the form you report on. It is your own record: we send nothing to any government.

Who to call

CAFAT, help with the Espace Assurés online account: 25 71 10.

From an official page, read October 25, 2026.

Questions

Is there unemployment benefit in New Caledonia?

Yes: Total unemployment allowance (Allocation de chômage total), paid by CAFAT.

How much is unemployment benefit in New Caledonia?

In the general case, 75% of the monthly SMG; otherwise 75% of the average salary of the last 3 months.

How long does unemployment benefit last in New Caledonia?

9 months (270 days) under 50; 12 months (360 days) from 50 to 55; 14 months (420 days) over 55, up to the legal retirement age.

How do I claim unemployment benefit in New Caledonia?

Apply to CAFAT once the job has ended, within three months (four months for residents of the Islands).

Do I have to look for work while I claim in New Caledonia?

The claimant must renew their job seeker status to keep receiving the allowance.

Who do I call about unemployment in New Caledonia?

CAFAT, help with the Espace Assurés online account: 25 71 10.

Nearby countries

FijiSolomon Islands

Where this comes from

Every part of this page was read on an official website, and each links the page it came from and the day we checked it. Rules and amounts change, so check that page before you rely on a figure. Jobareer is not part of any government and cannot see or change a claim.

See also: unemployment rate by country · New Caledonia's unemployment rate · unemployment in the US, state by state.