The latest employment data shows that Australia is doing better than most of the rest of world, but there are still "causes for concern'', Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has told parliament.
While the unemployment rate held at 5.8 per cent for a third straight month, the number of people employed fell by a further 27,100, including a hefty 30,800 drop in full-time position.
There was a modest rise in part-time workers.
"We are doing better than most of the rest of world,'' Mr Rudd said.``(But) these are no grounds for complacency ... there are still causes for concern.''
Australia's jobless rate was second only to Japan (5.7 per cent) and compared favourably with a G7 average of 8.2 per cent and the OECD average of 8.3 per cent.
Without the government's stimulus Australia's unemployment rate would have reached 10 per cent, Mr Rudd said, adding the stimulus was supporting employment of 210,000 jobs.
AAP
