The French government’s satisfaction at another monthly decline in unemployment has been tempered by a claim that official measures of joblessness do not reflect the full extent of the problem.

France’s unemployment rate fell to 8.7 per cent in November, the lowest level since July 2001. The figure - calculated in accordance with norms laid down by the International Labour Organisation - compares with 8.8 per cent in October and 9.7 per cent the previous November.