AFP - The number of unemployed people in France jumped by 79,900 to 2.38 million in February, the French labour ministry said on Wednesday -- a smaller rise than the 90,000 who lost their jobs in January.
   
The economic crisis has led to two massive public demonstrations in France in recent weeks. The government last year launched a 26-billion-euro stimulus plan and has given state aid to the car industry and poor households.
   
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said she expected things to be tough in the months to come.
   
"This increase in unemployment in February reflects the global economic and financial crisis, which will weigh on employment during all of 2009," Lagarde said in a statement following the publication of the data.
   
According to the finance ministry, unemployment in mainland France rose to 2,384,800 people last month from 2,304,900 in January and 2,003,600 in February 2008.
   
The figures, which used a different method for calculating unemployment for the first time, exclude France's overseas departments.
   
The largest increases in unemployment were among men, especially those under the age of 25.
   
Male unemployment was up 5.1 percent on the month in February and 32 percent on the year. Female joblessness was also worse, up 2.5 percent on the month and 10.6 percent on the year.