Paris (AFP)

The number of unemployed (category A) registered a historic increase over one month in March (+246,100, or + 7.1%) to settle at 3,732 million, said Pôle Emploi on Monday.

In the first quarter, the increase remains slight (+ 0.7% to 3.576 million) because this number had dropped sharply in January and February.

Due to a net decrease in the number of job seekers in reduced activity (categories B, C), the workforce A, B, C increased less sharply in March (+177,500, or + 3.1%). It remained stable over the quarter at 5.744 million.

"Given the unusual nature of the current situation", Pôle Emploi and Dares (statistical service of the Ministry of Labor) published, in addition to the quarterly figures, "a note on the developments that occurred in the month of March alone".

The increase in enrollments in categories A, B, C in March "comes from both a clear increase in entries to Pôle emploi (+ 5.5%) and a very sharp drop in exits (-29, 0%) ", they stress in a press release.

"The inflows for the end of the interim mission and the end of short contracts are on the rise, the implementation of confinement having led to non-renewals as well as to less new short-term hirings", they explain.

"Most of the reasons for leaving fall back, in particular the lack of updating, which generally covers part of the resumption of employment not declared at Pôle emploi, but also the resumption of employment declared, entry into training or training, as well as administrative write-offs, "they add.

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