Australia’s unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 4.9 per cent in March, as employers added more staff than analysts had expected.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported the number of people employed increased 37,800 people to 11.457 million in March. The increase in employment was driven by an increase in full-time employment, up 32,100 people to 8.106 million, and an increase in part-time employment, up 5,700 people to 3.351 million.

The number of people unemployed decreased by 10,200 people to 592,900 in March.
The ABS monthly aggregate hours worked series showed an increase in March, up 13.1 million hours to 1618.3 million hours.

Labour force participation was 65.8 per cent in March, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from February.

The Australian currency jumped to a fresh peak on the jobs news, rising to 104.75 US cents - the latest record after an extraordinary run in recent days.

The figures come after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept its benchmark interest rates at the highest level of 4.75 percent as typhoon floods continue to hamper coal mining in the Northeast and the competitive currency eases inflation fears.

RBA Governor Glenn Stevens said employment growth "has moderated," inflation is consistent with the central bank's goal and the currency's strength is helping ease prices pressure.
“Most leading indicators suggest further growth in employment, though most likely at a slower pace than in 2010,” Mr Stevens said.

The ANZ Job ad index, another measure of employment activity released this week, rose for eleventh straight month. The index was 1.3 per cent in March, following a downwardly revised 1.1 per cent rise in February.