The Wire

Unemployment has risen to 5.1% after the loss of 22,200 full-time jobs in July – it’s highest level since November last year. According to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today, the number of people employed in full-time work dropped by a seasonally-adjusted 22,200 in July. Jobs Minister Chris Evans says Australia’s unemployment rate remains comparatively low and is still the envy of the world, but Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says federal government plans to return the budget to surplus in 2012-13 will be just “a dream” by the weekend.