On the youth employment figures - you know, there is quite a lot of moving parts in the analysis which have relevance. For one thing, formation is different, and student retention as well. And not enough access to elite levels of education in France on top of it all.
There are many ways to address this issue, the important thing is that they be proposed, lest Sarko take up the space ideologically and stake his ground. 20+% youth unemployment is a problem. Fai de bèn a Bertrand, te lou rendra en cagant
The question is - those that are not in the active population - is it for good reasons like studying, or is it because they are discouraged?
See this:
Translated and discussed here: Facts about the French labor market In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
However, this graphic was somewhat helpful to me:
It seems to indicate that if you are under 26, and do not have a technical or professional degree (Bacs professionel ou technologique), then you will have a higher chance of obtaining a permanent work contract (CDI) if you continue studying until you get a "graduate degree" (Deuxième cycle), and even more chance with a post-graduate degree (Troisième cycle) -- assuming I'm reading it right.
If that is general knowledge young people, and if higher education is free (which I believe it is in France by and large), then presto, you have 60% of 15-24 year olds enrolled in school trying to get higher and higher degrees.
The chart would help a lot more if it gave percentages of people who have each respective level of education. I encourage you to go shopping more. -- George W. Bush
