Australia's job creation almost as fast as US

Sydney

AUSTRALIA is creating jobs at almost the same pace as US's standout labour market, yet diverging demographics have sent unemployment rates - and the public mood - in opposite directions.

The latest breakdown on employment by industry from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows 238,000 jobs were created in the year to May, a growth rate of 2.1 per cent.

That was only a fraction lower than the 2.2 per cent boasted by US payrolls - widely considered the star sector of the economy.

Yet, Australia's workforce expanded by even more in that 12 months, rising almost 252,000. With more people looking for work, the unemployment rate actually edged up to 6 per cent, from 5.9 per cent i…