The unemployment rate was estimated at 12.6% in the moving quarter ended January 2017. That represents an increase of 0.8 percentage points (p.p) in relation to the August-October 2016 period (11.8%). In comparison with the same moving quarter in the previous year, November 2015-January 2016 (9.5%), there was also increase , of 3.1 percentage points.

The unemployed population (12.9 million persons) increased 7.3% (879 thousand persons more) in relation to the October 2016 quarter and increased 34.3% (more 3.3 million persons) versus the same quarter in the previous year.

The employed population (89.9 million persons) recorded stability when compared with the October 2016 quarter. In comparison with the same quarter in the previous year, when the number of employed persons was 91.6 million, there was decline of 1.9% (or 1.7 million persons).

The number of workers with a formal contract (33.9 million persons) in the private sector recorded stability versus the quarter of comparison. Versus the same quarter a year ago, there was decrease of 3.7% (or 1.3 million persons).

The average usual real earnings from all jobs (R$ 2,056) remained stable against the figure in August-October 2016 (R$ 2,040). Versus the same quarter in the previous year (R$ 2,047), there was also stability.

The average usual real wage bill of employed persons from all jobs (R$ 180.2 billion) recorded stability in comparison with the October 2016 quarter and with the same quarter in the previous year.

The complete monthly edition of Continuous PNAD is available here.

Continuous PNAD indicators are calculated for moving quarters, considerng information relative to the three months prior to the survey. The rate for the moving quarter ended January 2017 was calculated according to data collected in November /2016, December/2016 and January/2017. The data used to calculate the indicators in the moving quarters ended January and December, for example, there is a percentage of data repetition around 66%. The repetition is interrupted after an interval of two moving quarters. Additional informatio on the survey methodology can be accessed at .

The number of employed persons was estimated at 89.9 million in the period November 2016-January 2017. The number of workers with a forma contract in the private sector (33.9 million persons) recorded stability versus that of August-October 2016. Versus the quarter ended January 2016 there was decrease of 3.7%, which represented a decrease of about 1.3 million persons with a formal employment contract.

The category workers with a forma contract in the private sector (10.4 million persons) recorded stability in relation to the October 2016 quarter. Versus the same period in the previous year, there was increase of 6.4%, that is, 626 thousand persons.

The category of self-employed persons (22.2 million persons) recorded increase (2.1%) in comparison with the period of August-October 2016 (with 450 thousand persons more). Versus the same period in the previous year, there was decrease of 3.9%, that is, a total 902 thousand persons.

The number of employers, estimated at 4.2 million persons, recorded stability in comparison with results of the immediately previous quarter. Against the same period in the previous year, this figure recorded a hike of 8.6% (333 thousand persons more).

The category of domestic workers, estimated at 6.1 million persons, remained stable versus both the October 2016 quarter and the January 2016 quarter.

In terms of groups of activity, the analysis of the number of employed persons in the moving quarter November 2016 – January 2017, in relation to the quarter August – October 2016, showed decrease in Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (-4.1%, or 651 thousand persons) and General industry (-2.2% or 254 thousand persons).

Increases were observed in the followin g groups: Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (2.4%, or 410 thousand persons), Transportation, storage and mailing (2.8%, or 126 thousand persons), Lodging and feeding(3.4%, or 161 Thousand persons) and Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (2.5% or 237 thousand persons). The other groups remained stable.

The comparison with the same quarter a year ago presented the following decreases:Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquiculture, -4.6% (minus 434 thousand persons),General industry, -7.4% (897 thousand persons), Construction, -9.6% (755 thousand persons), and Domestic services, -3.5% (223 thousand persons). There was increase in the group Lodging and Feeding, of 8.7% (393 thousand persons). The other groups did not record changes.

The average usual real earnings from all jobs of the employed population was estimated at R$ 2,056 in the quarter ended January 2017, with stability versus August-October 2016 (R$ 2,040). In relation to the same quarter in the previous year (R$ 2,047), there was also stability.

The average usual real earnings recorded positive change only for Civil servants, with 3.5% versus the figure in August-October 2016 and 3.3% against the same quarter in the previous year. The earnings of Self-employed workers recorded a negative change of 3.6% in relation to the same quarter in the previous year. In the other positions there was stability in relation to the previous quarter and in the same quarter in the previous year.

In the comparison with the October 2016 quarter, all the groups of activity recorded stability in earnings, except for Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services , which recorded a positive change of 3.5%. Versus the period November 2015-January 2016, only Lodging and feeding recorded decrease (-6.3%). Stability was recorded in the others.

The real usual wage bill of received by the employed population from all jobs was estimated, for the moving quarter ended January 2017, at R$ 180.2 billion reais. There was stability versus the August-October period and versus the same quarter in the previous year.