The Abbott government will be hoping for favourable labour force figures to boost its pre-budget message.
But economists doubt today's March numbers will be too inspiring, with the jobless total sticking at 6.3 per cent for a second month in a row and remaining close to the 12-year high of 6.4 per cent in January.
Treasurer Joe Hockey's December mid-year budget review forecast an unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent by the middle of this year.
A more up-to-date forecast by the International Monetary Fund this week put the jobless rate at 6.4 per cent in 2015, easing to 6.2 per cent in 2016.
Slightly more positive news is expected on employment, with economists predicting a 15,000 increase in the number of people employed in March.
