Australian Unemployment Edged Up Ahead of Wave of US Tariffs (2)

Australia’s jobless rate edged up in March while employment increased less than expected, suggesting a slight loosening of the labor market even before any impact from a wave of US tariffs.

The unemployment rate rose to 4.1% from a downwardly revised 4% in February and less than the 4.2% forecast, government data showed on Thursday. Employment rose by 32,200 — split almost evenly between full-time and part-time roles — compared with a forecast 40,000 increase.

The Australian dollar and yield on policy-sensitive three-year bonds trimmed earlier declines as traders pared expectations of an outsized rate cut at the Reserve Bank’s ...