The seasonally adjusted Australian unemployment rate remained steady at 4.9 per cent in May, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The ABS reported the number of people employed increased by 7,800 to 11,440,500 in May. The increase in employment was driven by an increase in part-time employment, up 29,800 people to 3,413,500 and was offset by a decrease in full-time employment, down 22,000 people to 8,027,100.

The number of people unemployed increased by 8,900 people to 592,800 in May, reported the ABS.

The ABS monthly aggregate hours worked series showed an increase in May, up 6.4 million hours to 1,601.1 million hours.

The ABS reported labour force participation rate in May of 65.6 per cent, which was unchanged from April.

The ABS reported labour force underutilisation rate was 12.2 per cent in May, up 0.2 percentage points from February.

More details are available in the May 2011 issue of Labour Force, Australia