Australia’s strong economy has produced another rise in employment in November, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Today’s announcement of a 52,600 rise in total employment beat economist expectations for 20,000 new jobs. However a rise in the participation rate to a record 65.3 per cent from October’s 65 per cent saw the jobless rate inch higher to 4.5 per cent, up 0.1 percentage point.

Most of the jobs growth came from part-time employment, which rose by over 44,000.

The labour market data may add to the pressure for another interest rate hike when the Reserve Bank next meets in February. The threat of rising wages growth increasing inflation will be on the minds of the bank’s board.

Commenting on the data, UBS senior economist Adam Carr said it wouldn’t change the RBA’s view on the labour market.

Saying the overall picture showed “a pretty strong labour market,” Carr said a tight labour market would continue to place upside risks on inflation.

The market reaction was subdued, however, with the Australian dollar initially rising on the strong jobs growth number but then steadying on the higher jobless rate.

Bond and bill futures stayed weaker as traders considered the data too mixed to take a clear view on monetary policy.