Australia's unemployment rate came in at a seasonally adjusted 5.8 percent in August, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday - in line with forecasts and up from 5.7 percent in July.

But the Australian economy lost 10,800 jobs in August - missing by a mile forecasts that had suggested an increase of 10,000 jobs. That follows the loss of 10,200 jobs in the previous month.

Full-time employment decreased 2,600 to 8,128,800 and part-time employment decreased 8,200 to 3,508,300.

Unemployment increased 9,400 (1.3 percent) to 714,100. The number of persons looking for full-time work decreased 2,300 to 516,300 and the number of persons looking for part-time work increased 11,700 to 197,800.

The participation rate was 65.0 percent versus forecasts for 65.2 percent and down from 65.1 percent a month earlier.

Aggregate monthly hours worked increased 1.1 million hours to 1,650.0 million hours.