Australian unemployment rate steady at historic lows

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SYDNEY, Aug 9 (AFP): Australia's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.3 per cent in July, according to official figures today.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed the nation's unemployment rate remained at a seasonally-adjusted 4.3 per cent recorded in June, just up from a 33-year low of 4.2 per cent in May.
Analysts had expected the jobless rate to rise marginally to 4.4 per cent.
The number of jobs in the Australian economy increased 21,800 to 10,483,700 in June, with the majority of new positions in full-time work.
The low unemployment rate was a factor cited by the Reserve Bank of Australia Wednesday when it hiked interest rates 0.25 points to a decade high 6.5 per cent.