French unemployment rate hits 37-year low as lockdown skews data

Global Economy

Reuters
13 August, 2020, 03:30 pm
Last modified: 13 August, 2020, 03:34 pm
The jobless rate fell to 7.1 percent, from 7.8 percent in the first quarter, hitting its lowest level since the second quarter of 1983, when it stood at 7.0 percent
Plastic circles are seen on the ground indicating where to stand to respect social distancing on a platform at the Gare du Nord train station during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Paris, France, May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

French unemployment fell to a 37-year low in the second quarter, as the continuation of a multi-year downtrend was exaggerated by a strict coronavirus lockdown that meant people were unable to look for work, INSEE statistics agency data showed on Thursday.

The jobless rate fell to 7.1 percent, from 7.8 percent in the first quarter, hitting its lowest level since the second quarter of 1983, when it stood at 7.0 percent.

INSEE warned that unemployment data for the first two quarters of 2020 was skewed because of the mid-March to mid-May lockdown, which reduced the number of those classified as unemployed by making it impossible for them to look for jobs.

The International Labour Organisation defines being unemployed as not working but being available to work and actively seeking a job - which was virtually impossible in many industries during lockdown.

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