* Energy stocks, banks lead gains on ASX 200

* Australia's net employment rose in August

* NZ's GDP rose 1.7% in June qtr

Sept 15 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended higher on Thursday boosted by energy stocks on strong crude prices, while the country's employment bouncing back in August also supported sentiment.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 0.2% higher at 6,842.90. The benchmark dropped 2.6% on Wednesday, its sharpest fall in three months amid a global selloff.

Energy stocks jumped 3.7% and posted their best session since Sept. 5 as oil prices firmed. Oil and gas majors Woodside Energy and Santos advanced 4.3% and 3.5%, respectively.

Financials gained 1.1%, with the 'Big Four' banks rising between 0.8% and 3.3%.

On the downside, miners shed 0.4%. Lithium developer Lake Resources led losses, slumping 12.7% a day after the company said a dispute had arisen with Lilac Solutions over the deadline for the U.S. partner to acquire a 25% stake in Kachi lithium project in Argentina.

Global miner Rio Tinto retreated 0.2%, while rivals BHP Group and Fortescue Metals rose 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively.

Bullion hit a near two-month low, dragging local gold stocks 0.8% lower. The country's largest gold miner Newcrest Mining declined 0.6%.

Meanwhile, Australia's net employment rose in August, in line with market forecasts and mostly reversing a fall in the previous month, while jobless rate inched up to 3.5% from 3.4%.

"It is quite certain that a month's data would not change the dominating theme that unemployment is at a record low in Australia," Kalkine Group Chief Executive Officer Kunal Sawhney said.

"Since the labour market is too hot, it undoubtedly gives additional support to the central bank's extended hawkish stance."

Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 ended flat at 11,658.94.

The economy rebounded sharply last quarter, as its gross domestic product rose 1.7%, beating forecasts and posting a timely recovery from the first quarter's 0.2% drop. (Reporting by Upasana Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)