Australia's jobs blew past expectations to surge the most in two years in August, yet unemployment was static as more people looked for work, limiting upward pressure on wages, inflation and interest rates.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed employment leapt 54,200, the biggest jump since October 2015 and far above the 15,000 to 20,000 increase forecast by economists. That was the 11th straight month of gains, the longest streak in 23 years.

Full-time employment made up the bulk of the gains (up 40,100), while part-time jobs rose by 14,100.

The data briefly lifted the Australian dollar back above US80¢ to a high of US80.17¢, from US79.75¢ ahead of the 1130 AEST announcement. It was trading at US80.04¢ at 1.15pm and softened to trade at US79.97¢ by 4pm.