Australia Unemployment Holds at 4.3% Even as Full-Time Jobs Jump

Australian unemployment held steady in March as hiring persisted in the face of shockwaves from the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has driven up fuel prices and given another leg up to inflationary pressures.

Employment advanced by 17,900, driven entirely by full-time roles, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Thursday. The jobless rate held at 4.3%, matching forecasts. The figures reinforce the Reserve Bank’s view that the labor market remains relatively tight.