Young, French and unemployed

Young, French and unemployed

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Alexandre is 24 years old and hunting for work – an increasingly difficult task in France, where joblessness hit a 14-year high of 10.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013.

After leaving school at 16 with a diploma in auto-mechanics, and having since worked in various different fields, Alexandre has now been unemployed for over a year. If he cannot find a position in France, he is thinking of trying his luck in a foreign country like Germany.

. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Alexandre uses the phone at a branch of the National Agency for Employment, where he comes twice a week to check for job offers, as well as attending monthly appointments with a career councillor.

In the past, Alexandre was employed as a mechanic, worked part-time in the building industry and held other, short-term jobs. Now, after a long stint of unemployment, he hopes to find a regular job in 2013.

. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

The 24 year old does bodybuilding exercises in an abandoned warehouse, where he comes to work out because he cannot afford a gym subscription.

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Slideshow

Alexandre stands in the kitchen of the house where he lives with his mother, in a suburb of Bordeaux.
. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Alexandre stands in the kitchen of the house where he lives with his mother, in a suburb of Bordeaux.

He works on a laptop in his bedroom.
. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

He works on a laptop in his bedroom.

He checks the computer.
. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

He checks the computer.

Alexandre sits in his car as he makes a phone call to apply for a job.
. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Alexandre sits in his car as he makes a phone call to apply for a job.

He attends an interview with Denis Monteils, the manager of a construction company named Martin & Monteils.
. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

He attends an interview with Denis Monteils, the manager of a construction company named Martin & Monteils.

Alexandre arrives for an interview at a branch of the National Agency for Employment.
. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Alexandre arrives for an interview at a branch of the National Agency for Employment.

He speaks with a councillor there.
. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

He speaks with a councillor there.

The young man smokes a cigarette from his bedroom window.
. PESSAC, France. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

The young man smokes a cigarette from his bedroom window.