The unemployment rate, in March 2015 was estimated at 6.2% for the group of the six metropolitan areas surveyed, standing stable against last February (5.9%). Compared with March 2014, the rate was 1.2 percentage points higher (changed from 5.0% to 6.2%). The unemployed population (1.5 million persons) did not change over February. An increase was registered in relation to March 2014 (23.1% or more 280 thousand persons). The employed population was estimated at 22.8 million persons for all the six areas, reflecting stable numbers both in the monthly and annual analyses. The number of workers with a formal contract in the private sector (11.5 million) was also stable, both in the monthly and annual comparisons. The average usual real earnings of workers was estimated at R$ 2,134.60.This figure was 2.8% lower than that recorded in the previous month (R$ 2,196.76) and 3.0% lower than that obtained in March 2014 (R$ 2,200.85). The average usual real wage bill of the employed persons was estimated at 49.3 billion in March 2015, posting a drop of 3.0% over last February. This estimate fell 3.8% in the annual comparison. The actual real wage bill of employed persons (R$ 50.1 billion), estimated in February 2015, changed -2.6% in the month and -3.1% in the year.

The Monthly Employment Survey is conducted in the metropolitan areas of Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre.  The complete publication can be accessed at www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/trabalhoerendimento/pme_nova/.

Regionally speaking, the unemployment rate increased in Rio de Janeiro, where it changed from 4.2% in February to 4.8% in March, and stood stable in the other areas. In São Paulo, the comparison with March 2014 did not significantly change. In Salvador, the unemployment rate changed from 9.2% to 12.0%; in Recife, from 5.5% to 8.1%; in Porto Alegre, from 3,2% to 5.1%; in Rio de Janeiro, from 3.5% to 4.8% and in Belo Horizonte, from 3.6% to 4.7%.

The contingent of unemployed persons was estimated at 1.5 million persons for all the six areas investigated, remaining unchanged against February. An increase was registered in relation to March 2014 (23.1% or more 280 thousand persons). In the regional analysis, the contingent of unemployed persons compared with February varied only in Rio de Janeiro (increase of 15.0% or more 36 thousand persons). Compared with March last year, the unemployment increased in Porto Alegre (67.9%); Recife (51.8%); Rio de Janeiro (38.6%); Salvador (35.4%); and Belo Horizonte (32.3%). The rate remained stable in São Paulo.

Employment population ratio remains stable at 52.1%

The employment population ratio - proportion of employed persons in relation to persons at working age - was estimated at 52.1% in March 2015 for all the six metropolitan areas surveyed, remaining unchanged in relation to last February. This indicator reduced 0.9 percentage points when compared with that of March 2014. In regional terms, the only change in the monthly comparison took place in Salvador (-1.6 percentage points), remaining stable in the other areas investigated. The comparison with March 2014 showed a drop in three areas: Rio de Janeiro (1.4 percentage points), Belo Horizonte (1.3 pp) and São Paulo (1.1 pp). 

In the monthly comparison, average earnings drops in all metropolitan areas

Regionally speaking, earnings dropped in Salvador (-6.8%); Porto Alegre (-4.4%); Belo Horizonte (-3.1%); São Paulo (-2.3%); Rio de Janeiro (-2.6%); and Recife (-1.4%) in relation to February. Compared with March 2014, earnings decreased in Salvador (-6.9%); Porto Alegre (-3.5%); São Paulo (-3.4%); Belo Horizonte (-2.8%); and Rio de Janeiro (-2.2%). Recife was the only area that posted a positive change in the annual comparison (+2.2%).

In the classification by groups of activity for all the six areas, the highest drop in the average usual real earnings in relation to February 2015 was registered in Construction (-5.6%). In the comparison with March 2014, the highest drop was reported in Trade, repair of motor vehicles and of personal and household objects and in Retail trade of fuels (-5.2%). Both comparisons showed a drop in the majority of the groups surveyed.

In the classification by employment type categories, the highest drop in the average usual real earnings compared with February 2015 was registered among the military and public servants (-2.3%), though the losses also took place in the other categories. Employees without a formal contract in the private sector recorded an increase of 2.7% over March 2014, whereas the military and public servants posted a drop of 3.1%.