France has seen a fall in the number of those claiming unemployment benefit in January.
Those seeking work now number close to 3.5 million a drop of some 19,000 on the December figures.
The 0.5 percent fall represents the first reduction in unemployment in the eurozone’s second biggest economy since August 2014.
The announcement will come as good news for President Francois Hollande who has seen his popularity ratings drop to record lows as he failed to live up to promises to turn the job market around.
Consumer confidence is also up handing the government a double dose of welcome medicine.
