Unemployment rises unexpectedly - will this impact the next OCR call?

The latest unexpected rise in unemployment could be a sign the economy isn't doing as well as expected.

Four hundred and 38-thousand people aren't working as much as they could be in the September quarter.

That includes 174-thousand - about 5.7 percent of the workforce - who wanted a job but didn't have one.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge the rise, along with other economic elements remaining weaker than anticipated, could see the Reserve Bank hold the Official Cash Rate in December. 

He says they're trying to balance inflationary pressures, but equally they don't want to kneecap the economic recovery. 

LISTEN ABOVE