* Euro zone, French and German PMIs point to solid growth
* France catches up with Germany as election approaches
* Jobs component rises at fastest rate since 2007
* Euro zone economy graphic: http://tmsnrt.rs/2bkCt7Q
* French presidential candidates: http://tmsnrt.rs/2jLwO20
By Jeremy Gaunt and Krishna Eluri
Feb 21 (Reuters) - The euro zone's economy improved sharply this month and enjoyed some rare positive news about jobs, with French business activity unexpectedly matching that in big beast Germany just as its presidential race heats up.
Preliminary purchasing manager surveys on Tuesday for both countries and the whole 19-member euro zone were nearly all better than anyone polled by Reuters had expected and suggested the economy will be increasingly robust in the near-term.
The euro zone's jobs component grew at its fastest since August 2007, propelled by strong demand and rising optimism.
Employment is one of the euro zone's primary weaknesses, with joblessness running just below 10 percent, double the rate in the United States.
Overall, euro zone private sector and manufacturing growth accelerated to near a six-year high in February, according to IHS Markit's monthly Purchasing Managers' Indexes (PMIs), which gauge businesses' expectations of how the economy will perform.
"With domestic demand strengthening and a weaker euro boosting orders from abroad, the euro zone economy is seeing robust growth for the moment," ING economists said in a note.
There was also evidence within the reports of rising inflation, something the European Central Bank will doubtless note if not yet act upon.
But the flash survey for France is likely to have raised eyebrows the most.
The picture it painted of a solid recovery will play straight into spring's presidential election, in which far-right National Front candidate Marine Le Pen is seeking to harness popular discontent to beat more mainstream rivals.
At 56.2, France's PMI combining both manufacturing and services for February was the highest it has been in nearly six years. It was also better than the 56.1 reading for Germany, the euro zone's economic powerhouse.
"France (is) joining the party," Chris Williamson, chief business economist at PMI compiler IHS Markit, said.
Most of the French improvement came in the services sector, with the manufacturing index actually falling short of expectations although it remained well above the 50 line that denotes growth.
All three leading presidential candidates in France have argued that deep changes are needed in the French economy.
Le Pen wants to take France out of the euro currency bloc as a matter of national sovereignty and also promises popular moves such as lowering the retirement age, taxing the wealthy and cutting energy prices.