Today's labour force figures are expected to show unemployment rose again last month as Australia's slowing economy keeps a lid on jobs growth.

The unemployment rate is expected to creep higher from 5.7 per cent to 5.8 per cent for July, which would follow its jump to a four-year high in June.

Just 6,000 positions are expected to have been created but that's not nearly enough to keep up with population growth.

St George senior economist Jo Horton says most of the jobs created in the past several months have been part-time positions.

"That's reflecting perhaps an underlying uncertainty on behalf of employers and so they're a little reluctant to put on full-time employees, whereas we are seeing increases in those part time employees," she said.

Ms Horton says the economy is struggling to adjust after the mining investment boom.

"Sectors that are traditionally big employers still haven't picked up, despite the Reserve Bank slashing interest rates," she said.

"Business confidence and business conditions just aren't that strong and that's starting to flow through to hiring intentions."

Ms Horton is warning unemployment could reach 6 per cent by the end of this year, as employers outside the mining sector remain reluctant to take on new workers.

That figure is in line with the Federal Government's weak forecasts.

"I think the risk is as we come into the end of this year and as mining investment slows further, the risk is that we do see the unemployment rate move towards 6 per cent and perhaps breach that level," Ms Horton said.