Record 3.22 million jobseekers in France

The number of unemployed people in France rose to a fresh high in March 2013, official data shows.

There are now some 3.2 million people seeking work in France, 11.5% more than a year ago and 1.2% more than in February, the labour ministry said. The number of jobseekers is the highest since records began in January 1996.

The ministry does not express the jobseeker figure as a percentage of the work force, as done by the International Labour Organization.But it did say the unemployment rate was 10.2% at the end of 2012, and current unemployment had not breached the 10.7% high seen in 1997

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Unemployment in Spain passes six-million mark for the first time http://www.europeansources.info/record/unemployment-in-spain-passes-six-million-mark-for-the-first-time/

ESO: Background information: European Jobless Rates Show North-South Rift http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-jobless-rates-show-north-south-rift/

BBC News, 26.04.13: French unemployment at new high http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22301063

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