$A higher after strong jobs data

The Australian dollar has jumped by more than half a cent after the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 6.1 per cent.

The Australian dollar leapt more than half a US cent after the unemployment rate fell to an unexpected 6.1 per cent.

The fall in the jobless rate for March, which smashed economists' expectations, was driven by the number of people with jobs rising by 37,700.

Economists had expected total employment to rise by 15,000, and unemployment to stay steady at 6.3 per cent.

The Australian dollar rose to 77.77 US cents at 1132 AEST, up from 77.16 US cents just before the data was released at 1130 AEST.