Australia’s unemployment rate jumped to a seasonally-adjusted 6.2 per cent in April, with 594,300 jobs lost during the month.
The number of unemployed people increased by 104,500 to 823,300 people, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released on Thursday.
There was a decrease of 220,500 in people with full-time work and 373.800 people in part-time employment.
The sharp fall reflects the full monthly impact of strict social distancing measures imposed in late March which led to business closures.
Unemployment was up from the 5.2 per cent rate seen in March.
Most economists had expected the unemployment rate to jump to 8.2 per cent with around 575,000 jobs lost in the month.
More to come.
