Australia’s unemployment rate rises to 3.8% in March as employers shed more than 6,000 jobs

The ABS has reported that Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 3.8% in March. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

Australia’s economy shed 6,600 jobs last month as employers responded to weak demand by trimming staff numbers.

The unemployment rate in March was 3.8%, the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced on Thursday, rising from February’s 3.7%.