FX.co ★ Australia Jobless Rate Climbs To 4.0% In December

The unemployment rate in Australia registered at a seasonally adjusted 4.0 percent in December, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday. This figure aligns with predictions and reflects an increase from November's 3.9 percent. In addition, the Australian economy saw a significant boost by adding 56,300 jobs last month, far surpassing the anticipated rise of 14,500 jobs. This follows a revised gain from November, which originally reported 35,600 jobs but was adjusted to 28,200. Notably, full-time employment decreased by 23,700 positions, while part-time roles surged by 80,000. Meanwhile, the participation rate edged higher to 67.1 percent, surpassing the expected and unchanged rate of 67.0 percent.