LABOUR FORCE DATA FOR DECEMBER:
* Unemployment rate - 4.2 per cent versus 4.6 per cent in November
* Underemployment rate (employed people seeking additional work) - 6.6 per cent versus 7.5 per cent
* Employment - up 64,800
* Full-time positions - up 41,500
* Part-time employment - up 23,300
* Participation rate (people working or looking for work) - 66.1 per cent versus 66.1 per cent
* Monthly hours worked in all jobs - up 1.0 per cent or 18 million hours
STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES:
NSW - 4.0 per cent in October versus 4.6 per cent in November
VIC - 4.2 per cent versus 4.7 per cent
QLD - 4.7 per cent versus 4.8 per cent
SA - 3.9 per cent versus 4.6 per cent
WA - 3.4 per cent versus 3.8 per cent
TAS - 3.9 per cent versus 5.1 per cent
NT - 4.2 per cent versus 4.4 per cent
ACT - 4.5 per cent versus 3.8 per cent
(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)