SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian employment outpaced forecasts for a second month in January as more women got work, yet the unemployment rate still ticked higher as an unusually large number of people were waiting to start a new job.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showed net employment rose 44,000 in January from December, when they jumped 60,000. That was well above market forecasts for a 20,000 rise, while annual jobs growth accelerated further to a blistering 3.5%.
The jobless rate rose to 4.1%, from 4.0%, matching market expectations as the workforce expanded by even more than the rise in jobs. The participation rate climbed to a record high of 67.3%, from 67.2%, while hours worked dipped 0.4%.
(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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