The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate was steady at 4.3 percent in March off the back of 18,000 new jobs.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released today show the number of unemployed people fell by 4000 during the month but fewer people were participating in the workforce.
“Growth in employment was driven by full-time workers, which rose by 53,000 people in March,” ABS head of labour statistics Sean Crick said.
“This was partly offset by a fall in part-time employment of 35,000 people.”
Over a full 12 months, the number of unemployed people in Australia was up 42,700, or seven percent.
In March, full-time employment rose for both males and females, increasing by 29,000 and 24,000 respectively.
Mr Crick said people worked 9.2 million more hours in March, with full-time hours increasing by 7.1 million and part-time hours increasing by 2.1 million hours.
Part-time hours worked rose 0.6 percent, despite the 0.7 percent fall in part-time employment.
“This meant that on average, a person working part-time worked 1.4 percent more hours in March than they did in February,” Mr Crick said.
The full report is on the ABS website
