Jobless rate steady at 4 percent but rate rise speculation heightens

Australia's official unemployment rate remains within a whisker of falling below four percent for the first time since the 1970s adding to the case for the Reserve Bank to start raising interest rates.

The headline jobless rate came in steady at four percent - just short of an unemployment rate with a "3" in front it - as the government's credentials for "responsible economic management" take centre stage in the election campaign.

The continuing economic recovery adds to speculation that the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates in June.

Here's my analysis on The World Today