Australia Jobless Rate Inches Higher

(RTTNews) - The unemployment rate in Australia edged higher in February, while the number of employed Australians increased less than expected.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported Thursday that the nation's jobless rate increased 0.1 percent to 5.3 percent.

The Bureau said the January jobless rate was downwardly revised to 5.2 percent.

The number of employed Australians increased by just 400 to a seasonally adjusted 10.971 million.

Full time employment increased by 11,400 while part time employment declined by 11,000.

The number of unemployed Australians increased by 10,700 to 615,900.

The Bureau's employment participation rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 65.2 percent.