The unemployment rate has bucked expectations and remained at 4 per cent in March as the jobless rate continues to fall faster for women than men, with the number of people in jobs growing for the fifth month in a row.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show there were 18,000 more people in jobs in March and unemployment fell by 12,000.

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ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis said it meant the unemployment rate decreased slightly last month, but remained at 4 per cent in rounded terms.

“Four per cent is the lowest the unemployment rate has been in the monthly survey,” Jarvis said. “Lower rates were seen in the series before November 1974, when the survey was quarterly.”

The data was published on day four of the election campaign, with both major parties focused on the cost of living as inflation rises and the official cash rate set to increase within weeks.

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