The Australian economy has shed the highest number of full-time jobs in 16 months as the labour market softens amid a transition towards non-mining led growth.

The unemployment rate remained steady at 5.7 per cent in October, but lifted by 0.1 percentage points on unrounded estimates from September, with 1100 jobs added to the economy, the Bureau of Statistics said. The jobless rate had slipped from its four-year high of 5.8 per cent in August.

On the rise: unemployment crept higher in October. Credit:Louie Douvis

Full-time positions shrank by 27,900 while part-time jobs rose by 28,900. The participation rate remained stable at 64.8 per cent, the lowest level in seven years, after the September figures were revised down from 64.9 per cent.

"The economy is still not creating much in the way of new jobs," said National Australia Bank senior economist David de Garis.