Unemployment in the eurozone and France reached its lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis in February, according to figures released on Wednesday, but it is expected to rise sharply in March due to the coronavirus.
One month before the implementation of lockdown measures in most of the 19 countries that adopted the single currency because of the Covid-19 pandemic, unemployment fell to 7.3% in February, the lowest rate since March 2008, according to the European statistical office, Eurostat. At the height of the debt crisis, unemployment in the eurozone reached a record high of 12.1% in April, May, and June 2013.
With a rate of 8.1%, France was above the eurozone average (7.3%).
It is likely that this will remain the lowest rate achieved for a long time, as the impact of the lockdown measures on unemployment is likely to be potentially severe.
