8 Feb 2013

Australia's unemployment rate steady

7:05 am on 8 February 2013

Australia's unemployment rate has held steady at 5.4% in January, despite a fall in the number of full-time jobs.

Official figures estimate there were 9800 less full-time positions for the month, but this was countered by rise in 20,200 part-time jobs.

The ABC reports the participation rate - the proportion of people in work or actively looking for it - declined 0.1 of a percentage point to 65%.