Bezrobocie we Francji siąga do 3 Million

The number of unemployed people in France has topped three million for the first time since 1999, according to latest labour ministry figures.

August's jobless total rose by 23,900 to 3.011 million, a 9% increase on a year earlier, marking the 16th consecutive monthly rise.

Speaking before the data was officially announced, Labour Minister Michel Sapin said: "It's bad. It's clearly bad."

However, the government blamed the previous regime of Nicolas Sarkozy.

"These three million unemployed embody the failure of economic and social policies undertaken during the last few years," the labour ministry said in a statement.

"In the face of this difficult report, the government is determined to implement as soon as possible reforms", it said.

The news will, however, add pressure on President Francois Hollande, who came to power on a promise to revive the economy.

He won power in May, pledging to revive the eurozone's second largest economy, tackle rising unemployment, and reverse industrial decline. However his approval rating is now at it lowest since he assumed power, pollsters say.

Since May, major companies have announced thousands of layoffs, including carmaker Peugeot, drugmaker Sanofi, airline Air France-KLM, and retailer Carrefour.

Analysts warned that the unemployment situation could worsen.

Mathieu Plane, economist at the French Economic Observatory, told the Reuters news agency: "There are almost one million more unemployed people compared with early 2008 and we can't yet say that we have reached the peak."

The French economy has posted three consecutive quarters of zero growth, and forward-looking data suggests it may continue to flatline. (...)

Source: bbc.co.uk