In metropolitan France alone, the unemployment rate also fell by 0.2 points to 8.2%, which represents 2.4 million unemployed people.

The unemployment rate fell slightly in the second quarter to 8.5% of the workforce in France (excluding Mayotte), continuing its downward trend, according to figures released by INSEE Wednesday.

This is a lower level since early 2009, says INSEE, as in the previous quarter. In metropolitan France alone, the unemployment rate also fell by 0.2 points to 8.2%, which represents 2.4 million unemployed people.