SYDNEY (AFX) - The unemployment rate in May rose to a seasonally adjusted 6.9 pct from 6.8 pct in April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. The ABS said total employment fell a seasonally adjusted 4,100 to 9.151 mln in May from 9.156 mln in April. The participation rate was a seasonally adjusted 63.9 pct in May after 63.9 in April. The median market forecast was for the unemployment rate to hold steady at 6.8 pct, with forecasts ranging from 6.6 to 7.0 pct. Employment was expected to have fallen by 20,000, with forecasts ranging from a fall of 45,000 to a fall of 10,000.