Unemployment in France climbed in March for the ninth consecutive month, while the number of young people looking for jobs rose sharply, increasing the urgency of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to tackle youth unemployment.

The number of jobseekers under the age of 25 rose 35.8 per cent year on year, according to figures released on Monday by the economic ministry, while the number of young unemployed males jumped by almost a half, or 49.9 per cent.