Jobless rate rises

UNEMPLOYMENT is believed to have bumped higher last month, owing to a slowdown in the creation of new jobs. Official figures to be released on Thursday are likely to show the jobless rate rose to 6.1 per cent, according to a survey of 11 economists. The forecast comes after record low interest rates and sluggish wages growth helped push unemployment to its lowest level in a year in May. It fell to a seasonally adjusted 6.0 per cent, from a downwardly revised 6.1 per cent in April. Employment is expected to have fallen by 5000 last month.