Australia’s unemployment falls to 3.6% as the economy adds 76,000 jobs in May

Employers expand workforces even as growth slows, surprising economists

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Australia's economy added 76,000 jobs last month as employers defied signs of slowing demand to expand the national workforce beyond 14 million for the first time.

The jobless rate in May was 3.6%, down from 3.7% in April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Thursday. Economists had expected the economy would add 17,500 positions last month, leaving the unemployment rate steady at 3.7%.