Jobless claims in France hit three-year high in August

The number of people out of work in France reached a three-year high in August to more than 3.556 million, casting doubt over French President Francois Hollande's pledge to reverse a long-running rise in unemployment, official data showed on Monday.

In its monthly report on jobless claims, French labor ministry said more than 50,200 jobseekers entered the local job market last month, up by 1.4 percent from a month earlier.

On yearly basis, unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percent, according to the ministry's monthly data.

Over the period, jobless rate for unemployed youth grew by 2.3 percent while that of unemployed seniors increase by 1.2 percent.

French Labor Minister Myriam El Khomri attributed rise of jobless claims to "difficulties in certain sectors particularly affected by the July bombings."

Despite grim data, El Khomri vowed that "actions in favor of employment and the fight against unemployment should be pursued with the same intensity."

During their governing period, the ruling Socialists unveiled different labor programs including state-sponsored jobs for youth, lower charges for enterprises to incite recruitment and the latest controversial labor code reform which triggered violent street protests and has shaken the Socialist ruling camp.

Unemployment rate in France is currently at 9.9 percent. Endit