The contrast between American and French economic performance and the ability of each system to create jobs is striking. First, America's success.

U.S. college graduates are facing the best job market since 2001, with business, computer, engineering, education and health care grads in highest demand, a report by an employment consulting firm showed on Monday.

"We are approaching full employment and some employers are already dreaming up perks to attract the best talent," said John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

In its annual outlook of entry-level jobs, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said strong job growth and falling unemployment makes this spring the hottest job market for America's 1.4 million college graduates since the dot-com collapse in 2001.

The firm pointed to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers which showed employers plan to hire 14.5 percent more new college graduates than a year ago.

The survey also found higher starting salaries this year. Graduates with economic or finance degrees will see the biggest gain with starting salaries up 11 percent to $45,191, while accounting salaries are up 6.2 percent, business management salaries up 3.9 percent and pay for civil engineers 4.3 percent higher.

And now, France.

Students clashed with police and activists rampaged through a McDonald’s restaurant and torched the entrance to a Gap store in the capital Saturday as demonstrations against a government plan to loosen job protections spread in a widening arc across France...

Widespread discontent with the government has crystalized around a new type of job contract that Villepin says will alleviate France’s sky-high youth unemployment by getting companies to risk hiring young workers.

It's a shame that with the clearly proven superiority of the American model, emulated in the U.K., Ireland and elsewhere, the French still refuse to choose stagnation and mediocrity over growth and innovation. Vive la difference!

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