The rate of unemployment in France is forecast to fall towards the end of 2011.

According to the French national employment agency, the jobless total could expand further this year to 9.8 per cent before dropping back to 9.6 per cent in 2011.

The employment market is expected to pick up next year, Pole Emploi has predicted, noting that growth in the number of people seeking work will slow during 2010.

Latest data from Pole Emploi show there were 2,667,900 French jobseekers in February, with those in category A rising by 0.1 per cent from January, those in category B up by 0.1 per cent and by 0.6 per cent in category C, all of whom must engage in positive acts of looking for work.

According to the Wall Street Journal, rises in French employment rates will lag slightly behind economic growth, which is expected to reach 1.6 per cent during 2010, while gross domestic product expansion of 1.4 per cent is forecast in 2011.