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Australia's Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.1% as Workforce Participation Hits Record High

January saw a surprising increase in employment, driven by full-time job growth, but unemployment also ticked up due to more people entering the workforce.

Workers are reflected in an office building's windows in Sydney's Barangaroo business district in Australia's largest city, May 8, 2017.  REUTERS/Jason Reed/File Photo

Overview

  • The unemployment rate in Australia increased to 4.1% in January, up from 4.0% in December, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
  • Employment rose by 44,000, exceeding forecasts, with growth primarily in full-time positions, while part-time employment declined.
  • The workforce participation rate reached a record high of 67.3%, reflecting more people actively seeking or starting work.
  • The rise in unemployment was partly attributed to a higher-than-usual number of people waiting to begin or return to jobs after the summer.
  • Female employment and unemployment saw the most significant changes, with 44,000 more women employed and 24,000 more unemployed compared to minimal changes for men.