The nation's unemployment rate slipped slightly to 5.2 per cent in September due to a small fall in the proportion of Australians looking for work.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday reported the nation added a lower-than-expected 14,700 jobs through September. Of that, 26,200 people picked up full-time work while part time employment slipped by 11,400.

It took the unemployment rate down by 0.1 percentage points. The participation rate, which measures the proportion of people in work or looking for it, fell by the same amount.

The result means the economy has now recorded three years of unbroken jobs growth. The last time the number of jobs fell in a month was August 2016.