France's unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percent to 9.2 percent in the first quarter of 2011 year-on-year

 France's unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percent to 9.2 percent in the first quarter of 2011 year-on-year, the national statistics bureau Insee said Wednesday.

In mainland France, 2.6 million people were recorded jobless. However, if broadening the definition to registered job-seekers who already work part-time, the unemployed figure rose to 3.4 million.

Young people aged between 25-49 took the biggest share of the unemployment army, with over 1.5 million in the metropolitan.

During the first quarter, unemployment rate in women perched at 9.9 percent, compared to 8.6 percent in men.

The French government has vowed to reduce jobless rate to below 9 percent at the end of this year, which doesn't match the prediction of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in its latest Economic Outlook.

Foreseeing a 2.2-percent growth this year in France, the Paris-based organization set French unemployment for 2011 at 9.1 percent, followed by 8.8 percent in 2012.

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