The Bureau of Statistics shows unemployment stands at 6 per cent, the highest level in 10 years.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the increase in unemployment has happened under Prime Minister Tony Abbott and he must do something to stop it from continuing to rise.
"The Abbott government has got serious questions to answer. What is the jobs plan for the Abbott Government?
"What are they doing to stop the tens of thousands of jobs that are either going overseas or just disappearing? Over 60,000 full-time jobs have been lost since the Abbott Government was elected."
Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey says the government has a jobs package, and that is to increase productivity and cut spending to create more jobs.
"The jobs package is to improve the strength of the overall economy," Mr Hockey said.
"The bottom line is we have to lift the tide so that all boats rise and getting rid of the carbon tax, which is a tax on energy and everyone uses energy, getting rid of the mining tax at a time when there are significant reductions in employment in the mining industry."
As the first week of parliament wrapped up in Canberra, the federal government received mixed news on the jobs front.
The Victorian government shored up hundreds of jobs at SPC Ardmona's fruit and vegetable processing plant by investing $22 million, in the wake of Mr Abbott saying no to $25 million of federal money for the company.
But the decision was soured by the rise in national unemployment to six per cent for January and the announcement by mining construction firm Forge of the retrenchment of 1300 employees in WA and Queensland.
The prime minister told parliament he regretted that the jobless rate was "edging up".
But he noted 200,000 people had lost their jobs under the previous Labor government, which put in place job-destroying policies such as the carbon and mining taxes and regulations.
"I say to Labor members - you created the problem, this government is fixing the problem and you should stop obstructing the fix," Mr Abbott told parliament.
Mr Abbott said he was delighted with the announcement that SPC Ardmona would continue without the need for federal assistance.
"I want to thank all the people ... on this side of the house who have been wishing well this great institution," he said.
"We said SPC Ardmona had a good future and it does. We said that it didn't need $25 million from the commonwealth and it doesn't."
Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union national secretary Michael O'Connor said jobs could be created by stopping the unfair dumping of imported goods onto the Australian market.
As well, government agencies should be buying more Australian products, investing in trade training and co-investing in manufacturing.
"Australian workers need to see strong leadership," he said.
