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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Business
Peter Hannam

Australia’s unemployment falls to 3.6% as the economy adds 76,000 jobs in May

Employees are seen at work during a workshop tour at Eric Jones Stairbuilding in Blackburn, Melbourne
The jobs data will be closely watched by the Reserve Bank ahead of its 4 July meeting to decide whether to again lift the official interest rate. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Australia’s economy added 76,000 jobs last month as employers defied signs of slowing demand to expand the national workforce beyond 14 million for the first time.

The jobless rate in May was 3.6%, down from 3.7% in April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Thursday. Economists had expected the economy would add 17,500 positions last month, leaving the unemployment rate steady at 3.7%.

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