The unemployment rate for the country stood at 12.6% in the quarter of June-July-August of 2017, recording reduction of 0.7 percentage points in relation to the March-April-June quarter (13.3%). In the comparison with the same quarter a year ago, when the rate was estimated at 11.8%, there was increase (0.8 percentage points).

The unemployed population was estimated at 13.1 million, which represented a decrease of 4.8% (658 thousand less persons), in relation to the previous quarter. Compared with the same quarter last year, when there were 12.0 million unemployed persons, this estimate rose 9.1% (1.1 million more persons).

The employed population (91.1 million) increased 1.5% in relation to the previous quarter (1.4 million more persons).  In relation to the same quarter of the previous year, when there was in Brazil 90.1 million employed persons, this indicator presented a positive change of 1% (1 million more persons).

Estimated at 33.4 million, the contingent of employed persons with a formal labor contract  remained stable against the previous quarter (March-May 2017). It dropped 2.2% (765 thousand less persons) compared with the June-July-August quarter of 2016.

The number of employed persons without a formal contract (10.8 million persons) decreased 2.7% in relation to the previous quarter, representing an increase of 286 thousand persons. Over the same quarter a  year ago, there was a 5.4% increase (552 thousand more persons).

The category of the self-employed workers (22.8 million persons) grew 2.1% in relation to the March-April-May quarter (472 thousand more persons). In relation to the same period a year ago, there was also a positive change: 2.8% representing an increase if 612 thousand persons.

The average usual real earnings (R$2,105) in the quarter of June-July-August 2017 remained stable against the previous quarter (R$2,116) and also in relation to the same quarter in 2016 (R$2,066). The usual real wage bill (R$186.7 billion) in the quarter ended in August 2017 also remained stable in both comparisons. Access the complete information on the survey here.

The unemployment rate was estimated at 12.6%, in the moving quarter of June to August of 2017, recording a reduction of 0.7 percentage points in relation to the March-April-June quarter of 2017 (13.3%). In the comparison with the same moving quarter a year ago, June to August 2016, when the rate was estimated at 11.8%, there was increase (0.8 percentage points).

About 13.1 million persons were unemployed in Brazil in the quarter between June and August 2017. This contingent presented a drop of 4.8%, i. e., 658 thousand less persons, against the quarter from March to May 2017, when the unemployment was estimated at 13.8 million persons. Compared with the same quarter last year, when there were 12.0 million unemployed persons, this estimate rose 9.1%, resulting in an increase of 1.1 million unemployed persons in the labor market.

Unemployment Rate - Brazil - 2012/2017

The number of employed persons was estimated at nearly 91.1 million in the quarter of June to August 2017. There was an increase of 1.5% in relation to the previous quarter, i. e., a rise of 1.4 million persons. In relation to the same quarter of the previous year (June to August 2016), there was a high of 1%, which corresponds to an increase of 1 million of employed persons, in the period.

The employment-population ratio (indicator that measures the percentage of employed persons in the working age population) was estimated at 54.0% in the quarter of June to August 2017, registering an increase of 0.6 percentage points against the quarter from March to May 2017 (53.4%). In relation to the same period a year ago, the indicator did not record statistically significant changes.

Employment-population ratio - Brazil - 2012/2017

In labor force, (employed and unemployed persons) in the quarter of June to August 2017, the estimate was of 104.2 million persons. This population registered a rise of 0.7% (716 thousand more persons), when compared to the quarter of March to May 2017. Over the same quarter a year ago, there was expansion of 2.0% (increase of 2.0% million persons).

The labor force participation rate (indicator that measures the percentage of persons in the labor force in the working age population) was estimated at 61.8% in the quarter from June to August 2017, not presenting a statistically significant change against the quarter from March to May 2017 (61.6%). In relation to the same quarter a year ago (61.4%), this indicator presented a growth of 0.4 percentage points.

The number of persons out of the labor market was estimated at nearly 64.4 million in the quarter of June to August 2017. This population registered stability when compared to both comparison quarters.

Estimated at 33.4 million persons, the contingent of persons employed in the private sector with a formal contract (excluding domestic workers) remained stable against the previous quarter (March to May 2017). It dropped 2.2% (765 thousand less persons) compared with the June -August quarter of 2016.

In the period from June to August 2017, the category of the employed in the private sector without a formal contract (10.8 million persons) recorded a rise in relation to the previous quarter (2.7%), representing an increment of 286 thousand persons. Over the same quarter a year ago, there was a 5.4% increase, an additional estimated at 552 thousand persons.

The category of self-employed workers, formed by 22.8 million persons, recorded an increase of 2.1% in the comparison with the previous quarter (March to May 2017), meaning 472 thousand more persons in this contingent. In relation to the same period a year ago, the indicator also recorded a positive change of 2.8%, representing the increase of 612 thousand persons.

The number of employers remained at 4.2 million persons, holding steady over the previous quarter. In relation to the same period a year ago, the number recorded a rise of 6.8% (estimated at 267 thousand persons).

The category of the domestic workers, estimated at 6.1 million persons, kept statistically stable in both comparative quarters.

The workers employed in the public sector (including statutory servants and the military), estimated at 11.5 million persons, presented a growth of 2.6% (295 thousand persons) against the previous quarter (March to May 2017). In the comparison with the quarter from June to August of 2016, there was not a statistically significant change.

The analysis of the employed contingent, according to the activity groups, of the moving quarter from June to August of  2017, in relation to the quarter from March to May 2017, shows an increase in the categories: General Industry (1.9% or 227 thousand more persons), Construction (2.9% or 191 thousand more persons), Public administration, defense, social security, education, health and social services (2.7% or 414 thousand more persons) and Other services  (3.0% or 132 thousand more persons). In the other groups, there were not statistically significant changes.

In the comparison with the quarter from June to August 2016, there was reduction in the contingent of the following groups: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and aquaculture (-6.8% or 627 thousand less persons) and Construction (-4.9% or 353 thousand less persons). And there was increase in the following groups: General Industry (3.2% or 365 thousand more persons), Transportation, Storage and Mailing Activities (3.9% or 174 thousand more persons), Food and Lodging (13.2% or 603  thousand more persons), Information, Communication and Financial, Real Estate, Professional and Administrative Activities (3.2% or 310 thousand more persons) and Other services (8.6% or 359 thousand more persons). In the other groups, there were not statistically significant changes.

The average usual real earnings from all jobs of the employed persons was estimated at R$2,105 in the quarter of June to August 2017, remaining stable against the March-May quarter of 2017 (R$2,116). Over the same quarter a year ago (R$2,066), the situation was also of stability.

 Average usual real earnings from all jobs of employed persons - Brazil - 2012/2017

In relation to the same quarter in 2016 (June to August), the average usual real earnings only rose for those employed in the private sector with a formal contract (3.0%), remaining stable for the other categories of employment type. In relation to the same quarter a year ago (March to May of 2017), for all the employment types, there was stability.

In the comparison with the quarter from March to May 2017, the average usual real earnings did not register a statistically significant change of average income in the activity groups. Over the quarter of June to August 2016, the group Agriculture, forestry, fishing and aquaculture recorded an average income increase of 9.4%, whereas the other groups remained virtually stable.

The usual real wage bill in all jobs of the employed persons was estimated, for the moving quarter of June from August 2017, at R$186.7 billion reais, staying virtually stable over the quarter of March to May 2017. There was also stability in the comparison with the same quarter a year ago.