The unemployment rate has reached its highest level in almost four years following a surprise jump in the number of people looking for work last month.

According to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this morning, the jobless rate hit 4.5 per cent in September, up from 4.3 per cent the month prior.

"This is the highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate recorded since November 2021," ABS head of labour statistics Sean Crick said.

"There were 34,000 more unemployed people in September. The number of employed people also grew, up 15,000 in the same period."

More to come.

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