The number of people registered as out of work in mainland France reached 3,525,700 by the end of last month, up 0.2 percent over one month and down 0.7 percent over one year.
Earlier this month French President Francois Hollande expressed confidence that he would get unemployment on a steady decline, which he has set as a pre-condition for him running for a second term in a two round presidential election next April and May.
Deeply unpopular with voters in part for failing so far to cut unemployment as promised, Hollande is counting on a contested labour reform passed this month to revive the labour market.
Hollande and his Socialist government faced three months of strikes and sometimes violent street protests over the law from hardline unions opposed to the reform to make hiring and firing easier.