The unemployment rate was estimated at 13.3% in the March-April-May 2017 quarter, remaining stable in relation to the December-January-February quarter. The rate rose 2.1 percentage points compared with the same quarter last year, when it was estimated at 11.2%. This was the highest unemployment rate for the quarters ending in May since the beginning of the time series of the survey in the first quarter of 2012.

The unemployed population was estimated at 13.8 million persons, remaining stable in relation to the previous quarter and 20.4% higher (2.3 million more persons) than the same quarter in 2016.

The employed population (89.7 million persons) remained stable in relation to the previous quarter, yet fell 1.3% (1.2 million less persons) in relation to the same quarter in 2016.

The employment-population ratio – percentage of employed persons in the population at working age – also remained stable in relation to the previous quarter (53.4%). This rate retreated 1.3 percentage points in relation to the employment-population ratio of the same quarter in 2016 (54.7%). This was the lowest employment-population ratio for quarters ending in May in the time series of the survey.

The number of persons employed with a formal contract (33.3 million persons) reduced in both comparison periods: against the December-January-February quarter (-1.4% or 479 thousand less persons) and compared with the March-May quarter in 2016 (-3.4% or less 1.2 million persons).

The average usual real earnings (R$2,109) in the quarter ended in May 2017 remained stable against the previous quarter (R$2,102) and also in relation to the same quarter in 2016 (R$2,062). The usual real wage bill (R$184.4 billion) in the quarter ended in May 2017 also remained stable in both comparisons.

Unemployment Rate - Brazil - 2012/2017

Source: IBGE, Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios Contínua

In the quarter from March to May 2017, there was nearly 13.8 million unemployed persons in Brazil. This number presented stability over the quarter of December to February 2017, when unemployment was estimated at 13.5 million persons. Compared with the same quarter last year, this estimate rose 20.4%, resulting in an increase of 2.3 million unemployed persons in the labor market.

The number of employed persons was estimated at nearly 89.7 million in the quarter of March to May 2017. This estimate recorded stability over the previous quarter (December to February 2017) and decline in relation to the same quarter a year ago (March to May 2016/ 1.3%, or reduction of 1.2 million persons).

The employment-population ratio (indicator that measures the percentage of employed persons in the working age population) was estimated at 53.4% in the quarter of March to May 2017, registering stability over the December-February quarter of 2017 (53.4%). In relation to the same quarter a year ago, this indicator presented a retraction of 1.3 percentage points, going from 54.7% to 53.4%. It should be noted that this was the lowest employment-population ratio seen in this quarter, since the beginning of the series, initiated in Q1 of 2012.

Table 2 - Employment-population ratio - Brazil - 2012/2017

Source: IBGE, Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios Contínua

In labor force, (employed and unemployed persons) in the quarter of March to May 2017, the estimate was of 103.5 million persons. This population registered a rise of 0.6% when compared to the quarter of December to February 2017. Over the same quarter a year ago, there was expansion of 1.1% (increase of 1.2 million persons). It is important noticing that the growth seen in the labor force in Brazil occurred mainly due to the unemployment decrease registered in the latest years.

The number of persons out of the labor market was estimated at nearly 64.4 million in the quarter of March to May 2017. This population registered stability when compared to the quarter of December to February 2017. Over the same quarter a year ago, there was a 0.9% high (increase of 569 thousand persons).

Concerning the number of persons employed in the private sector with a formal contract, estimated at 33.3 million persons, there was reduction in both comparisons: over the quarter of December to February 2017 (-1.4% or -479 thousand persons) and March-May quarter in 2016 (-3.4% or -1.2 million persons).

In the period from March to May 2017, the category of the employed persons in the private sector without a formal contract (10.5 million persons) recorded a rise in relation to the previous quarter (2.2%). Over the same quarter a year ago, there was a 4.1% increase, an estimated additional of 409 thousand persons.

The category of the self-employed workers, made of 22.4 million persons, recorded stability in the comparison with the previous quarter (December to February 2017). Over the same period a year ago, the trend was downward (-2.6% or -599 thousand persons).

The number of employers, estimated at 4.1 million persons, held steady over the previous quarter. In relation to the same period a year ago, the number recorded a rise of 9.3% (estimated at 351 thousand persons).

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

The analysis of the number of employed persons, according to the groups of activities, of the moving quarter from March to May 2017, in relation to the quarter from December to February 2017, recorded decrease in Construction (-3.9% or – 271 thousand persons) and increase in General Industry (3.0% or + 344 thousand persons), Lodging and food (2.9%, or + 144 thousand persons) and in Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (1.9% or + 287 thousand persons). In the other areas there were not significant changes. 

In the comparison with the quarter from March to May 2016, there was reduction in the following groups: Construction (-10.6% or -793 thousand persons), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Aquaculture (-7.3% or -684 thousand persons) and Domestic services (-3.2% or -203 thousand persons). There was increase in the following groups: Lodging and Food (12.5% or + 568 thousand persons) and Other services (6.2% or + 257 thousand persons). In the other areas there were not significant changes.

The average usual real earnings from all jobs of the employed persons was estimated at R$2,109 in the quarter of March to May 2017, remaining stable against the December-February 2017 quarter (R$2,102). Over the same quarter a year ago (R$2,062), the situation was also of stability.

The usual real earnings presented a positive change in relation to the previous quarter (December to February 2017), just for Domestic workers, 1.5%, staying stable for the other groups. In relation to the same quarter a year ago (March to May of 2016) for all the employment types there was stability.

In the comparison with the quarter from December to February 2017, just the group of Domestic services registered a positive change of 1.5%. In the other areas there were not significant changes. Over the quarter of March to May 2016, the group Agriculture, forestry, fishing and aquaculture recorded an average income increase of 7.8%, whereas the other groups remained stable.

The usual real wage bill in all jobs by the employed persons was estimated, for the moving quarter of March from May 2017, at R$184.4 billion reais, staying stable both over the quarter of December to February 2017 and the same quarter a year ago.

Social Communication
June 30, 2017