THE jobless rate has fallen to a three-month low of 5.2 per cent, defying expectations for another increase.

The fall in November, from 5.4 per cent in October, came as the number of people in employment rose by almost 14,000 positions.

While full-time employment fell by more than 4000, this was partly offset by an 18,000 increase in part-time work.

Most states saw a decline in their respective jobless rates in November.

But Victoria's rate rose to 5.5 per cent, from 5.4 per cent, and in Tasmania it was unchanged at 6.7 per cent.

In NSW, the unemployment rate fell to 5.1 per cent while in Queensland it declined to six per cent, and in South Australia it dropped to 5.3 per cent.

Western Australia recorded a hefty drop to 4.1 per cent, from 4.6 per cent.

In the territories, the rate rose to 4.1 per cent, from 4.0 per cent, in the ACT, and it declined to 3.8 per cent, from 3.9 per cent, in the Northern Territory.