Australia adds 71,500 jobs, the biggest jump since 2000

Australia added 71,500 jobs in February, a huge jump and the biggest rise in total employment in more than a decade.

Full-time employment jumped by 17,800 and part-time employment was up by 53,700, said the Bureau of Statistics.

There was also a rise in the total workforce, which comprises those in work plus those looking for it.

The unemployment rate remained at 5.4%. 

Analysts said the data was a sign that economic conditions were improving.

A senior economist at Macquarie Brian Redican, expected only about 9,000 jobs to be added in February.

Redican added that With this kind of employment growth, obviously policymakers would be feeling pretty comfortable with the current policy settings.

Although some economists warned that the dramatic rise could be a one-off instead of a steady trend upwards.