PARIS: The number of people out of work in France rose by 1,600 in March to 3.349 million, failing to reverse the upward trend in joblessness dogging President Francois Hollande.
Labour ministry data showed on Friday that the number of people registered as out of work reached 3,349,300 in mainland France, a zero percent change over one month but a rise of 4.1 percent over one year.
February's total of 3,347,700 active jobseekers had represented a 0.9 percent rise over January.
The number of job seekers under the age of 25 fell by 0.8 percent in March, helped by subsidised job schemes, on which the government has spent at least 2 billion euros. But that fall was counterbalanced by a 1 percent rise in the number of job seekers over age 50.
Hollande's approval ratings have dropped to record lows after he failed to fulfil a promise to get unemployment on a downward trend by the end of last year, in the face of a weak recovery in the euro zone's second-biggest economy.
Hollande has said he will not stand for re-election in 2017 if unemployment does not fall by the end of his term. It currently stands at 10.2 percent.
Comments
Comments are closed.