FXStreet (Bali) – Australia published better-than-expected employment figures for the month of December, with the ABS reporting an decrease in total employment of just -1k (seasonally adjusted) vs -12.5k expected. Full-time jobs came in at 17.6k vs 47.3k last (revised), while part-time saw a jump -18.6k. Australian unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8%, with the participation rate at 65.1% vs 65.3% last.
DECEMBER KEY POINTS
TREND ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE): Employment increased to 11,893,800.
Unemployment decreased to 734,300. Unemployment rate decreased 0.1 pts to 5.8%.
Participation rate increased less than 0.1 pts to 65.2%. Monthly hours worked in all jobs increased 2.8 million hours to 1,649.9 million hours.
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES (MONTHLY CHANGE): Employment decreased 1,000 to 11,902,300 from a revised November 2015 estimate. Full-time employment increased 17,600 to 8,228,700 and part-time employment decreased 18,500 to 3,673,600. Unemployment decreased 10,900 to 727,500. The number of unemployed persons looking for full-time work decreased 2,600 to 515,000 and the number of unemployed persons only looking for part-time work decreased 8,400 to 212,500. Unemployment rate decreased 0.1 pts to 5.8%, based on unrounded estimates. Participation rate decreased 0.1 pts to 65.1%, based on unrounded estimates. Monthly hours worked in all jobs increased 0.3 million hours to 1,645.2 million hours.
(Market News Provided by FXstreet)