The number of employed Australians surged in September, defying economists' expectations of a fall and firming up expectations of more central bank interest rate increases this year.
Crucially, the numbers released have prompted some analysts to suggest the unemployment rate may have already hit its cyclical peak at a time when the nation's industrialised peers are still facing substantial job losses.
The unemployment rate fell to a lower-than-expected seasonally adjusted 5.7% in September from 5.8% in August. The number of employed rose 40,600, the highest monthly rise since November 2007 when it increased 47,500.Economists on average had expected an unemployment rate of 5.9%, with the number of employed down 10,000.
The number of people in full-time work rose 35,400 to 7.59m in September, from 7.55m in August, while the number of people in part-time work rose 5,200 to 3.22m from 3.21m.