10.2% jobless and 26% of under-25s
Unemployment breaches the 10% barrier for first time since 1999 – but young people and over-50s badly affected
FRANCE’S unemployment rate has breached the 10% barrier, with 10.2% out of work in the last quarter of 2012. The figures also show that nearly 26% of under-25s have no job.
The figures from national statistics body Insee show 2.9million people unemployed – up 0.3% from the previous quarter – but the Pôle Emploi job centre says its figures show that 3.17m were out of work in January. It also makes the total 4.6m if it includes those who were in short-term working but want to work more.
Unemployment has not hit such high levels since 1999 and the situation is particularly worrying for young people, with 25.7% out of work. For older workers, the percentage of over-49s out of work has risen to 7.2% from 6.8%.
If the figures for the overseas territories are included the rate is 10.6% unemployed.
Government moves to cut the jobless figures are aimed at the young with the emplois d'avenir where young people get job experience and initial training and contrats de generation where there is a reduction in charges for companies taking on young workers to work alongside an older worker preparing for retirement.
Employment Minister Michel Sapin said that 10,000 of the new contracts had already been signed and it was aiming for 100,000 by the end of the year.
Graphic: Insee
