PARIS (AP) — The number of French unemployed has broken through the 3 million barrier, the country’s
leaders say.
The
latest total adds pressure on President Francois Hollande, whose
administration is under attack for doing not doing enough to fix the
economy. France’s unemployment rate is currently 10 percent.
Breaking
the 3 million mark carries more symbolic importance than economic but
it was covered extensively in the French media over the weekend.
According to Le Figaro newspaper, last time the 3-million threshold was
crossed was in 1999.
Employment Minister Michel Sapin confirmed
the total on French radio on Sunday and warned that the numbers would
likely get worse. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called the numbers
"very violent". The government announced last week that it had counted
more than 2.9 million unemployed people in July, so the threshold was
expected to be passed in August.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
PARIS (AP) — The number of French unemployed has broken through the 3 million barrier, the country’s
leaders say.
The
latest total adds pressure on President Francois Hollande, whose
administration is under attack for doing not doing enough to fix the
economy. France’s unemployment rate is currently 10 percent.
Breaking
the 3 million mark carries more symbolic importance than economic but
it was covered extensively in the French media over the weekend.
According to Le Figaro newspaper, last time the 3-million threshold was
crossed was in 1999.
Employment Minister Michel Sapin confirmed
the total on French radio on Sunday and warned that the numbers would
likely get worse. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called the numbers
"very violent". The government announced last week that it had counted
more than 2.9 million unemployed people in July, so the threshold was
expected to be passed in August.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.