Jobs in Australia up in October

Sydney

AUSTRALIA added more jobs than projected in October and unemployment held steady while doubts remained about data showing big swings in state jobless rates.

The number of people employed rose by 24,100, compared with economists' forecast of a 20,000 gain, a statistics bureau report showed on Thursday. While national unemployment held at 6.2 per cent, it jumped to 7 per cent from 6.3 per cent in Queensland and fell to 6.9 per cent from 7.6 per cent in Tasmania.