The rise in the unemployment rate is "a warning," according to Lescure.

"We have largely won the fight against unemployment over the past eight years," the minister declared on France 2, "but last year it slowed down, that's a warning."

The unemployment rate in France, excluding Mayotte, increased by 0,2 points in the fourth quarter of 2025, reaching 7,9% of the active population, its highest level since the third quarter of 2021.

"This shows that we must continue to fight to ensure that growth is achieved, that the cost of labor is limited, and that the competitiveness of the economy, particularly of French industry, is affirmed," he continued.

"We have won the fight against long-term unemployment," continued Mr. Lescure, "but there is still a real challenge, which is youth unemployment. We must fight to ensure that young people find themselves faster and stronger in the job market. We must give them jobs," he said.

This statement comes a few days after the Medef's proposal to create an open-ended contract (CDI) that can be terminated more easily to combat youth unemployment, a measure that is "not on the agenda", according to Matignon.

Asked about the appointment of the Minister of Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, to head the Court of Auditors, and the possible conflicts of interest that this would represent in having to judge the budgets that she helped to build, Mr. Lescure judged that she would be able to "govern this institution with complete independence".

He added that his colleague in the government was "extremely competent", noting that "everyone recognizes this across the political spectrum in the Assembly, from the far right to the far left".

"She is young and that's a good thing, she will bring an energy that the Court of Auditors may need," he added.

Regarding customs duties, Mr. Lescure finally called for "tailor-made solutions in sectors that are at the heart of sovereignty," citing "chemicals, automotive, green industries, solar energy," in response to the proposal from the High Commission for Planning to impose uniform customs duties of 30% at the European level on Chinese products.