Australia’s jobless rate at 50-year low of 3.9% but fewer positions added in April than predicted

The labour force figures are the final piece of economic data before the federal election and will be welcomed by the Coalition

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Election 2022 seat explorer; Pork-o-meter election promises tracker
• Guardian Australia's full federal election coverage
• Get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

Australia's jobless rate remained steady at 3.9% in April, hovering at near half-century lows, as the economy added a small number of new jobs and employees worked longer hours.

The nation's unemployment rate last month was a seasonally adjusted 3.9%, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Thursday, compared to 3.9% for March which was revised down from 4%.