Economy

Will Australia's jobs shocker put the RBA to work?

Aussie at multi-year low after December jobs shock
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Aussie at multi-year low after December jobs shock

Australian employers sacked the most people in nine months in December, a surprise blow for the economy that some analysts say could revive expectations for a central bank rate cut.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the number of people employed decreased by 22,600 in December, well below consensus expectations for a 7,500 increase. The news sent the Aussie dollar tumbling to $0.8805 early Thursday, its lowest level since August 2010.

Analysts told CNBC the jobs shocker could lead those who had forecast the nation's central bank to start hiking rates next year to revise their forecasts.

(Read More: 2014 a 'litmus test' for Australia economy: Goldman)

"Overall, economists have been bearish on the Australian economy for a while, so it's not a massive secret, especially given recent spending cuts by the government, and the fact that companies are wary of what direction the economy will take," said Stan Shamu, market strategist at trading firm IG, referring to the decline in jobs.

"We could see some analysts that have been forecasting rate hikes for next year revising their forecasts, this could be a talking point," he added.

Pedestrians on Campbell Parade, Bondi
Oliver Strewe | Lonely Planet Images | Getty Images

The Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates to a record low of 2.5 percent in August in an attempt to revive the country's flagging economy which has suffered from the impact of the end of its mining boom, slower growth in China, its largest trading partner, and stubborn strength in its domestic currency at the start of last year.

(Read More: Has the tide turned for corporate Australia?)

More recently, weakness in the Aussie pushed back rate cut expectations as the central bank made it clear that they would prefer to stimulate the economy through a weaker Aussie, rather than further easing. Furthermore, many think central bankers will be reluctant to lower rates again due to fear of further heating up its frothy property market.

But IG's Shamu told CNBC that Thursday's disappointing jobs number could shake the RBA.

"If jobs continue to fall, and that impacts other parts of the economy, the RBA, whose mandate is to keep the economy stable, might start to ramp things up. People could be wondering if this is the trigger [for a rate cut,]" he said.

(Read More: Australia to be 'odd one out' in 2014: Goldman Sachs)

However, Shamu noted, that the RBA was likely to wait to for the next data point before making any rash decisions, given that December jobs data is often seasonally affected, much like it is in the U.S.

Why Australia REITs may outperform: Morgan Stanley
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Why Australia REITs may outperform: Morgan Stanley

"Personally, I don't see the RBA cutting rates anytime soon. If the [Federal Reserve] continues to cut its asset purchases this year, it will lift the U.S. dollar and therefore weaken the Aussie, reducing the impetus for a rate cut," he added.

Nick Verdi, director of FX strategy for APAC ex-Japan at Barclays, told CNBC he thought it unlikely that the RBA would cut rates again, but said the weak jobs number would definitely provide a talking point.

(Read More: Sit up and take notice, Aussie pain is here to stay)

"While the RBA will be reluctant to cut rates because of worries about stoking the housing market, I think the labor market is giving the market pause for thought here," he added.

Verdi added that he expected the Australian jobs market to continue to deteriorate, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 6 percent by the middle of 2014, from 5.8 percent currently.

The weaker jobs data was driven by a plunge in full-time employment, which fell by 31,600 people, and was offset by a pick-up in part time employment by 9,000. Unemployment remained at 5.8 percent for the third straight month due to the participation rate dropping to its lowest since April 2006.

By CNBC's Katie Holliday: Follow her on Twitter @hollidaykatie