French President Declares 2013 "Battle for Jobs"

Outlook not looking good as Socialist enters first full year in office

France's faltering economy shed a further 30,000 jobs in November, according to new figures released Thursday, pushing the unemployment rate to its highest level in almost 15 years.

The alarming data, although expected, is another blow to the country's Socialist government and its president, who called earlier in the day for a collective "mobilisation" to deal with the ongoing employment crisis.