The number of unemployed people rose by 7.5% in 2020 despite a 2.7% drop in the fourth quarter, according to figures published Wednesday by the French labour ministry’s department. While more than 3.5 million people on average were unemployed during the fourth quarter of 2020, more than 2.1 million were in reduced activity and also searching for work. The fall in the unemployment rate during the final three months of 2020 can largely be explained by the state’s renewal of guaranteed loans and its coverage of the partial activity of employees. These state subsidies made it possible to maintain jobs and avoid the ... (full story)