PARIS (AFX) - France's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate fell to 8.8 pct in February from 9.0 pct in January, the Labour Ministry said.
The number of registered unemployed who are "immediately available" for work fell 27,200 to reach 2,092,500 on a seasonally-adjusted basis.
This category excludes those on the unemployment register who undertake part-time or temporary work for more than 78 hours per month. Including such registrants, the number of jobless fell 0.9 pct to 2,552,500 in February.
The ministry also issued figures for the number of unemployed based on International Labour Organisation definitions. These gave a seasonally-adjusted total of 2,315,000 in Februrary, down 1.7 pct from January. The unemployment rate series is calculated using these figures.
The Labour Ministry said the number of people looking for work has fallen by a total 16 pct in the last 12 months, with youth unemployment down 17.2 pct from last February, and long-term unemployment down 27.2 pct year-on-year.