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THE lowest jobless rate since 1989 was welcome news for the Federal Government, with intensifying speculation of an August federal election.
The result will help the Government in its push to keep economic management a hot political issue.
Prime Minister John Howard described the 5.6 per cent jobless rate and Australia's low 2 per cent inflation rate as a "golden double" last enjoyed in 1968.
In 1968, the average home loan rate was 5.88 per cent compared to just over 7 per
cent.
According to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics Australia gained another 43,400 fulltime jobs and 12,800 part-time positions. The biggest fall in jobless r2,t,was in Victoria, with rises recorded in Queensland (from 6 per cent to 6.3 per cent), Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
In April, the female participation rate in the workforce was 56 per cent compared to 72 per cent for men.
The female unemployment rate improved to 5.7 per cent in April, with 4.3 million women in work.
The male jobless rate remained steady at 5.5 per cent, with 5.3 million men in jobs.