Unemployment remains steady at 5.2%

Unemployment in Australia remained steady at 5.2% in March, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The total number of people in employment rose by 44,000, or 0.4%, to 11,491,200. The result was mostly driven by an increase in part-time jobs.

Full-time employment rates increased by 15,800 people to 8,080,400. Part-time employment rose by 28,200 to 3,410,900.

The unemployment rate had been tipped to grow to 5.3%, according to an AAP survey of 12 economists.