Australia’s jobless rate was steady last month, but employment fell sharply as interest rate hikes continued to hit the economy.
The unemployment rate remained at 3.9 per cent, seasonally adjusted as the participation rate dropped while fewer people looked for work.
The Bureau of Statistics says the number of people in work dropped by 65,000 in December.
This erased the big jump in jobs in November.
That’s the biggest monthly drop in employment since late 2021 during the Coronavirus lockdowns.