The unemployment rate has increased to 5.6 per cent despite a rise in the number of people with jobs in April.

The jobless rate rose from 5.5 per cent in March, and employment grew by 22,600, seasonally adjusted figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show.

Analysts were predicting a 20,000 rise in employment and the jobless rate to remain at 5.5 per cent for a fourth straight month.

There were 32,700 more full-time jobs in April, while part-time employment fell 10,000, and the participation rate was up slightly at 65.6 per cent, from 65.5 in March.

The Australian dollar has been boosted by the data, trading at 75.27 US cents at 1200 AEST, up from 75.18 US cents just prior to the release.

– AAP