The unemployment rate was estimated at 13.6% in the moving quarter ended April 2017, and was 1.0 percentage point above that of the quarter ended January this year (12.6%). The comparison with the same period in 2016 (11.2%) points to increase (2.4 percentage points).

The unemployed population (14.0 million persons) increased 8.7 % in relation to the result of the November 2016-January 2017 period (12.9 million persons), with na increase of 1.1 milllion unemployed persons in search of a job. Against figures for the same quarter a year ago, this estimate increased by 23.1%, which means about 2.6 milllion unemployed persons in the workforce.

 Decrease of 0.7% (89.2 million persons) was observed in the employed population versus the figure registered between November 2016 and January 2017 (89.9 milllion persons). Against the same quarter in 2016, when the numbers of employed persons was 90.6 million, there was decrease of 1.5%, meaning a total 1.4 million persons.

The number of workers with a formal contract (33.3 million) fell by 1.7% (minus 572 thousand persons) agaisnt the rate of the November 2016 - January 2017 period (33.9 million). Versus the quarter of February to April 2016, there was decrease of 3.6%, meaning approximately 1.2 persons in this condition.

The average usual real earnings from all the activities (R$ 2,107) remained stable in comparison with that of November 2016 - January 2017 (R$ 2,095) and also versus the same quarter a year ago (R$ 2,052).

The usual real wage bill from all the activities (R$ 183.3 billion) was stable in relation to the quarter ended January 2017 (R$ 183.5 billion) and versus the same quarter a year ago (R$ 181.2 billlion).

The complete Continuous PNAD publication can be accessed here.

Continuous PNAD indicators are calculated for moving quarters, considering information about the three months prior to the survey. The rate of the moving quarter ended April 2017 was calculated according to data collected in February/2017, March/2017 and Aprill/2017. Regarding information used to calculate indicators for the moving quarterd ended March and April, for example, there is data repetition of about 66%. That is only interrupted after na interval of two moving quarters. Additional information about the survey is available here.

In the moving quarter ended April 2017, there were about 14 million employed persons in Brazil. This figure represented an increase of 8.7% (1.1 million persons) versus that of the quarted ended January 2017, when the estimated population was 12.9 milllion persons. In comparison with the same quarter a year ago, this estimate rose 23.1%, meaning na increase of about 2.6 million unemployed persons in the workforce.

Persons aged 14 and over, unemployed in the week of reference - Brazil (thousand persons)

Source: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Trabalho e Rendimento, Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios Contínua.

The estimated number of employed personsin the quarter ended April 2017 was 89.2 million. This estimate represented a 0.7% decrease, versus the result of the preceding quarter (that is, minus 615 Thousand employed persons). In comparison with the same quarter last year, when the employed population amounted to 90.6 million employed persons, there was decrease of 1.5%, by 1.4 milllion persons.

The number of workers with a formal contract in the private sector , estimated at 33.3 milllion persons, fell by 1.7% in comparison with the quarter ended January 2017 (minus 572 thousand persons). Versus the quarter ended April 2017, there was decrease of 3.6%, with decline by approximately 1.2 milllion persons in this condition.

The category of workers without a private contract in the private sector (10.3 million) was stable in comparison with the result of November 2016-January 2017, but increased by 3.1% against the same period in the preceding year (306 thousand persons more).

Both the number of domestic workers (6.1 milllion) and of workers in the public sector (11.0 million) were stable versus figures of the quarter ended January 2017 and also agains the same period a year ago.

The number of employers (4.1 million was stable versus the result of the quarter ended January 2017 and increase of 10.6% versus the figure in the same period a year ago, 395 Thousand persons more.

The category of own-account workers (22.3 million) remained stable in relation to the quarter ended January 2017. Versus the quarter ended February 2016, there was decrease of 3.1%, with a decrease by 702 Thousand persons in this condition.

The analysis of the number of employed persons by group of activity, in relation to the quarter ended January 2017, there was increase in the groups general industry (1.8%) and lodging and feeding (3.0%). In the same period, there were decreases in: agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquaculture (-2.4%), construction (-4.1%) and trade, reparair of motor vehciles and motorcycles (-2.6%). In the other groups, there was stability.

The average usual real earnings from all the activities received by the employed persons was estimated at R$ 2,107, evidencing stability in comparison with the quarter ended November 2017 (R$ 2,095) and in relation to the same quarter a year before (R$ 2,052).

                                            Average Real Earnings from all the Activities (R$)

The analysis by group of activity shows stability in this comparison, except for domestic workers which had na increase of 1.9% in earnings in relation to the moving quarter ended January 2017.

The average usual real wage bill from all the activities was estimated at R$ 183.3 billion reais, being stable in relation to the quarter ended January 2017 and in comparison with the same quater a year ago.