RBA not swayed by jobless spike as next rate call looms

The rising jobless rate may have shocked economists but not the Reserve Bank, its governor says. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Hopes of near-term relief for borrowers have taken a hit after the Reserve Bank's governor said it wouldn't have cut interest rates even with a surprise jump in unemployment.

Michele Bullock brushed off suggestions the central bank was blindsided by a spike in the jobless rate to 4.3 per cent less than two weeks after the central bank board held interest rates steady in a split decision that shocked markets.