Analysts Thursday said a rise in unemployment last month to 5.3 per cent from 5.1 per cent in June reflected a rise in people looking for work rather than dip in positions available dpa reported
The creation of 23,500 jobs was offset by the loss of 24,000 jobs.
"It's just that jobs growth was not enough to provide work for the 48,000 people that either entered the workforce for the first time, or re-entered it after dropping out of work or the search for it," Commonwealth Bank Group economist Alan Langford said.
Employment Minister Simon Crean said the figures reflected confidence in the economy.
"We want to encourage more people into the workforce but the more successful we are in that, that will lift the participation rate and that will have an impact on the unemployment rate," he said