Australia's unemployment rate fell in November and the participation rate rose to a new record as more people of working age joined the work force.


Economists said the only thing stopping the unemployment rate from falling below five per cent is the rise in the participation rate.

The economy added 54,600 new jobs in November, when the market forecast was for an increase of 20,000.

The jobless rate fell to 5.2 per cent in November, from 5.4 in October, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show.

The participation rate in November was a record high for the monthly series, 66.1 per cent, up from an unrevised 65.9 per cent in October.

The participation rate is the proportion of people of working age either employed or officially classed as unemployed - actively looking for work and ready to start right away. For more details, click on link below.

Unemployment Rate Falls