The number of registered jobseekers in France surged by 31,500 in February to a new record high, dealing a sharp blow to government claims that the job market had stabilized, reports MNI.
The number of jobless seeking full-time employment rose record 3.348 million in February, an increase of 0.9% from January, the Labour Ministry said. Compared with a year ago, the number of registered jobseekers was up by 149,800, or 4.7%, the ministry said.
The jobless jump comes as President François Hollande's Socialist government is already reeling from sharp losses in the first round of municipal elections on Sunday. Registering their anger over high unemployment and taxes, many voters stayed away from the polls or cast their ballots for the far-right National Front party.
If results in second round of voting this Sunday are equally bad, Hollande is expected to announce a major cabinet reshuffle, including the replacement of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.
The sharp increase in jobless claims muddies the French employment picture even more because it comes just after the national statistics institute Insee revised France's jobless rate down to 10.2% from 10.9%, citing a change to its methodology.
The new figures are bound to increase the political squabbling over whether Hollande's has delivered on his promise to "invert the curve" of unemployment.
The Labour Ministry said the February rise in jobseekers contrasted with recent data showing "more tangible signs of recovery" and that the government would continue to use all available tools to reinvigorate the job market.
In February, jobless claims rose in all age categories, with the number of jobseekers up 0.3% for those under 25, 1.0% for those 25 to 49, and 1.3% for those of 50 and over, the ministry said.
A broader measure of jobseekers, which includes those now in part-time jobs, rose by 7,900, or 0.2%, in February to 4.938 million, the ministry said.
Read more of this report from MNI.