The jobless rate dived below 6 per cent for only the second time in nearly 18 months in October, after a surge in the actual number of people employed, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The ABS said on Thursday there was an increase of nearly 60,000 in the labour force, pushing the jobless rate down from 6.2 per cent to 5.9 per cent.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate was last below 6 per cent in May this year and before that, in May last year. However, on a trend basis - after ironing out volatility in the seasonally-adjusted data - unemployment has been steady above 6 per cent since May last year.

The ABS said said the increase in employment last month was driven by 33,500 more men in full-time jobs and 24,000 more women in part-time jobs.