SYDNEY, June 20 (Reuters) - Australia's unemployment rate needs to rise to help contain inflation and avoid higher interest rates and a deep recession, a top central banker warned on Tuesday, after data showed little loosening in a still drum-tight labour market.
Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Deputy Governor Michelle Bullock said the jobless rate would need to rise to about 4.5% from the current rate of 3.6% to bring the economy back into balance, a rate still well below pre-pandemic levels.
Indeed, Bullock also warned that if inflation were to become entrenched in people's expectations, that would mean higher rates and a larger rise in unemployment.
"A deep and long-lasting recession would be likely, which would mean a substantial rise in the unemployment rate."
Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Jacqueline Wong & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
Michelle Bullock, Bullock, Stella Qiu, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore
Organizations:
SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Ai Group, Thomson
Locations:
Newcastle