The flat unemployment rate in May is raising expectations that the jobless rate may have peaked, but there are fears it is unlikely to improve this year as mining construction winds back.

The Reserve Bank has made it clear that it does not intend to cut rates again, but a slowdown in economic activity - outside mining - a stubbornly higher local currency, added to the jobless rate, will likely keep the central bank standing pat.

22,000 full-time jobs were added to the economy in May. Credit:Virginia Star

Australia's unemployment rate stayed flat at 5.8 per cent, with 4,800 jobs lost from the local economy.

Full-time positions rose by 22,000, but part-time jobs fell 27,000, the Australian Bureau of Statistics published on Thursday.