Hundreds of thousands of French employees have stopped work and are expected to demonstrate across France this afternoon in the first general strike to hit an industrialised nation since the start of the financial crisis.

Public and private sector workers have joined forces to protest against Nicolas Sarkozy's handling of the crisis, saying too much has been done to help businesses and not enough to protect jobs and boost French workers' low wages.

It is the first wide-ranging general strike since Sarkozy took office and a rare show of unity from France's main unions. Train drivers, airport staff, teachers, postal workers and tax inspectors joined private-sector employees including bank clerks, car workers, ski-lift operators, supermarket check-out staff and even employees from the company that operates France's stock exchange.

With lawyers and journalists from state TV and radio also walking out, the various groups are protesting for job protection and better wages and against a raft of Sarkozy's reforms, ranging from justice to hospital and school reforms, and changes to the running of state TV.

Car workers downed tools over the crisis hitting the French auto industry. The arts world joined the ranks as north Paris's cutting-edge new arts centre, Le 104, staged its own strike.

"We need to sound a cry of anger," said François Chereque, head of the moderate CFDT union.

Early this morning there were delays and cancellations at Paris airports and to regional and national train services, as well as school closures. A scaled-back service was running on buses and the metro in Paris. State radio stations broadcast music on a loop, and the telecoms, gas and electricity sectors were all affected.

Polls have shown that around 70% of the French public think the strikes are justified – the highest approval for such action since Sarkozy took office. France has not experienced the banking woes that Britain and Ireland have faced but, as the country enters its first recession in 16 years, rising unemployment – predicted to top 10% next year – has sparked a mood of fear and anxiety. The latest unemployment figures could not be released today because statisticians are on strike.

About 200 demonstrations and marches around France are planned for this afternoon.