The unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent in April from 3.9 percent in March, according to official data released on Thursday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
-The highest rate since January 2022, Xinhua new agency reported.
The rise in the unemployment rate came despite Australian employment numbers increasing by 38,500 people between March and April, with a 44,600 increase in part-time positions partly offset by a 6,100 decline in full-time roles.
The number of unemployed also increased during the same period
30,300 to 604,200.
The participation rate, which measures the proportion of the working population that is either employed or looking for work, rose slightly to 66.6 percent in April from 66.6 percent in March.
"The employment-to-population ratio remained stable at 64.0 percent in April, indicating that recent employment growth is broadly keeping pace with population growth," Bjorn Jarvis, head of labor statistics at the ABS, said in a media release.
“This suggests that the labor market remains tight, although less tight than in late 2022 and early 2023.”
The total number of hours worked by Australians in April was 1.96 billion
1 million less than in April 2023.
The federal budget handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday forecasts unemployment will rise to 4.25 per cent by June 2024 and 4.5 per cent by June 2025.
-The highest rate since January 2022, Xinhua new agency reported.
The rise in the unemployment rate came despite Australian employment numbers increasing by 38,500 people between March and April, with a 44,600 increase in part-time positions partly offset by a 6,100 decline in full-time roles.
The number of unemployed also increased during the same period
30,300 to 604,200.
The participation rate, which measures the proportion of the working population that is either employed or looking for work, rose slightly to 66.6 percent in April from 66.6 percent in March.
"The employment-to-population ratio remained stable at 64.0 percent in April, indicating that recent employment growth is broadly keeping pace with population growth," Bjorn Jarvis, head of labor statistics at the ABS, said in a media release.
“This suggests that the labor market remains tight, although less tight than in late 2022 and early 2023.”
The total number of hours worked by Australians in April was 1.96 billion
1 million less than in April 2023.
The federal budget handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday forecasts unemployment will rise to 4.25 per cent by June 2024 and 4.5 per cent by June 2025.
