August 12, 2010	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	99/2010

The Australian unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 5.3 per cent in July, seasonally adjusted, the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced today.

The ABS reported the number of people employed increased by 23,500 people to 11.236 million, seasonally adjusted, in July. The rise in employment was driven by a rise in part-time employment, up 27,700 people to 3.369 million, that was slightly offset by a fall in full-time employment, down 4,200 people to 7.866 million.

The number of people unemployed increased in July, up 24,600 people to 631,800, reported the ABS.

The ABS seasonally adjusted monthly aggregate hours worked series showed a fall in July, down 7.2 million hours to 1,578.5 million hours.

The ABS reported the participation rate in July increased 0.2 percentage point to 65.5 per cent.

More details are available in the July 2010 release of Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) available for free download from the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>