Australia's unemployment rate rose unexpectedly to a 10-month high in August.

八月份，澳大利亚失业率突升至近十个月以来最高点。

Joblessness jumped to 5.3% from 5.1% in July, according to the country's statistical¹ bureau.

The Australian dollar fell half a cent against the US dollar after the figures were released.

The figures come a day after statistics showed that the economy grew in the second quarter, after a contraction² in the first three months of the year.

'Rising trend'

Analysts³ say that the lack of job creation is of major concern, despite the return to economic growth.

"Today's jobs figures highlight that the slightly better-than-expected June quarter gross domestic product report is old news," said Shane Oliver, chief economist⁴ at AMP Capital Investors⁵.

"Quite clearly all the talk of job losses seen over the last few months is now turning into reality."

Some major companies in Australia have announced job cuts in the past month, blaming the strength of the Australian dollar and tough economic climate globally.

Mr Oliver said the rising trend in unemployment was now unmistakeable.

Thursday's data showed that 9,700 jobs had been lost in August. Many economist were expecting 11,000 jobs to have been created.

The unemployment rate is now at the highest it has been since last October when it hit 5.4%.