France: Unemployment Declined in Q4 to Pre-Pandemic Levels

The unemployment rate in France decreased to levels before the Coronavirus Pandemic in the last quarter of 2020 despite the data being affected in part by the six-week lockdown measures to confront the COVID-19 outbreak, during which job seekers were unable to register themselves unemployed, According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in the country.

Official data showed on Tuesday that unemployment in the second largest economy in the euro zone fell 1.1% to 8%.

This compared with 9.1% after the adjustment in the third quarter and 8.1% in the last three months of 2019.

Unemployment decreased at a faster rate among those between the ages of 15 and 24, and slightly faster among women than men.

The National Statistics Institute stated that the number of long-term contract workers rose to 49.8% from 49.2% in the previous quarter, with some employment activities resuming.