Australia’s unemployment rate rose unexpectedly in June, significantly boosting the case for an interest-rate cut in August.

Australian employment rose only marginally in June as the jobless rate jumped to the highest since late 2021, showing perhaps the first crack in what had been an unusually resilient labour market and adding to the case for a rate cut next month.

Australian unemployment unexpectedly climbed to a four-year high in June as hiring almost stalled, suggesting a loosening of the labor market and bolstering the case for the Reserve Bank to reduce interest rates next month.