2019.06.1222:15:00UTC+00Australia Unemployment Rate Unchanged At 5.2% In May

The jobless rate in Australia came in at a seasonally adjusted 5.2 percent in May, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday - unchanged from the April reading but missing expectations for 5.1 percent.

The Australian economy added 42,300 jobs last month to 12,868,200 - blowing past expectations for an increase of 16,000 following the increase of 28,400 in the previous month.

Full-time employment increased 2,400 to 8,792,900 persons and part-time employment increased 39,800 to 4,075,400 persons.

Unemployment decreased 2,400 to 704,700 persons.

The participation rate was 66.0 percent, surpassing forecasts for 65.8 percent and up from the upwardly 65.9 percent a month earlier (originally 65.8 percent).

Monthly hours worked in all jobs decreased 5.9 million hours to 1,775.0 million hours.

The monthly trend underemployment rate increased 0.1 pts to 8.5 percent. The monthly underutilization rate increased 0.1 pts to 13.6 percent.

The monthly seasonally adjusted underemployment rate increased 0.1 pts to 8.6 percent. The monthly underutilization rate remained steady at 13.7 percent.