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The number of people registered as out of work in mainland France fell to 3.44 million, down 1.0 percent over one quarter and 1.4 percent over one year, according to the data, which is now published quarterly and no longer every month.
A gradual improvement in the French economy and faster job creation has so far only translated into a gradual decrease in the number of jobseekers since a peak in October 2015.
While an overhaul of the labour code in September by President Emmanuel Macron has given firms more leeway to get rid of workers, it also appears to be giving them the confidence to hire more as well.