Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 5.2 per cent in June, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

The ABS reported the number of people employed decreased by 27,000 to 11,500,500 in June. The decrease in employment was mainly driven by decreased full-time employment, down 33,500 people to 8,065,500, and was offset by an increase in part-time employment, up 6,600 people to 3,435,000. The decrease in employment was driven by a decrease in both male and female full-time employment.

The number of people unemployed increased by 7,200 people to 631,300 in June, the ABS reported.

Monthly aggregate hours worked showed a decrease in June, down 19.6 million hours to 1,602.1 million hours.

The ABS reported a decrease in the labour force participation rate of 0.2 percentage points in June to 65.2 per cent.

This month's article 'What's new in Labour Force' provides details regarding the impact of preliminary population estimates from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing and also the upcoming improvements to the labour force survey as a result of a holistic review of the entire ABS Labour Household Survey program.

More labour force results are in the June 2012 issue of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0), as well as the upcoming June 2012 issue of Labour Force, Australia, Detailed (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001) due for release next week on July 19. Both publications are available for free download (after release) from the ABS website - www.abs.gov.au.