After a cumulative increase of 1.6% during three months of expansion, the number of industrial jobs started decreasing again in April (-0.5% in the series against the previous month, with seasonal adjustment). Other indicators also point out a decrease: -0.2% in the monthly index (compared with April 2003), -0.6% in the cumulative of the year and -1.0% in the cumulative of the last twelve months. The index of the quarterly moving average, which is in a higher level since July 2003, shows stability (0.0%) between the quarter closed in April and the quarter closed in March.

In comparison with April 2003, the decrease of 0.2% was a result of the poor performance of eight of the 14 places surveyed and seven of the 18 activities. Among the places surveyed, São Paulo's industry (-1.5%) and, consequently, the Southeast Region (-1.1%), exerted, once more, the main pressures for the reduction of jobs, influenced, above all, by the reduction of employment in wearing apparel (-26.6%, in São Paulo and -17.1% in the Southeast) and fabricated metal products (-10.9% and -11.3%, respectively). Other substantial decreases occurred in Rio de Janeiro (-4.2%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-2.2%), because of the reduction of workers in fabricated metal products (-33.2%) and footwear and leather (-8.7%). The main positive contributions for industrial jobs came from Minas Gerais (2.8%) and from the North and Central-West Region (3.8%).

Among the industrial sectors, the main negative influences on the level of employment came from wearing apparel (-9.5%), fabricated metal products (-7.5%), paper and press (-6.2%) and, non-metallic mineral products (-5.7%). On the other hand, positive impacts came from the hiring in the activities of machinery and equipment (12.5%) and food and beverages (2.4%), because of the production dynamism.

In the cumulative indicator of the first four months of the year, there was a slight deceleration in the falling pace of the last three months: -1.1% until February; -0.8% until March; and -0.6% until April. Among the areas, the negative rates reached nine surveyed places. The highlights are the job cuts in the Southeast Region (-1.0%), since São Paulo (-1.4%) and Rio de Janeiro (-4.0%) have been responsible for the main negative impacts on employment. Negative influence has also come from Rio Grande do Sul (-2.8%), with a decrease in the number of workers in 11 activities, especially footwear and leather (-8.7%). The main positive contribution came from Minas Gerais (3.0%).

Among the sectors, still concerning the cumulative index of the year, eight branches showed decrease. The biggest negative pressure came from wearing apparel (-11.2%), then paper and press (-6.7%), textiles (-5.6%) and non-metallic mineral products (-5.4%). Machinery and equipment is, once more, the positive highlight (11.11%).

The cumulative indicator of the last twelve months repeated the mark of February and March (-1.0%), with negative results in ten areas and nine surveyed activities. By area, once more São Paulo (-1.8%), Rio de Janeiro (4.5%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-2.6%) had the biggest impact on layoffs in the industry, while the North and Central-West Region (2.7%) were the main positive highlights. In terms of sectors, the biggest negative contribution came from wearing apparel (-8.0%) and the positive contribution came from machinery and equipment (6.9%).

Overall of hours paid fell 0.4% in relation to March

In April, the number of hours paid to the industry workers decreased 0.4% in comparison to March, discounted the seasonal influences. The comparison between April 04/ April 03 did not register any changes (0.0%), while the cumulative indicator decreased: -0.2% in the year and -1.0% in the last twelve months. The average working day, in its turn, has grown in the monthly indicator (0.2%) and in the cumulative index of the year (0.5%), and became stable in the cumulative indicator of the last twelve months (0.0%).

The quarterly moving average maintains an increasing trend begun in January 2004, up 0.4% in the total of hours paid between the quarter that ended in April and the quarter that ended in March (graphic).

The stability in the monthly index reflects the negative performance of five of the 14 places and eight of the 18 segments surveyed. Among the sectors, the biggest decreases came from wearing apparel (-10.9%), fabricated metal products (-7.6%) and paper and press (-5.6%). Conversely, the main positive contributions are due to the industries of machinery and equipment (16.6%), rubber and plastic (5.8%) and the manufacturing of means of transportation (4.3%).

Among the areas, still in the April 04 / April 03 confrontation, the main negative influences were: São Paulo (-1.1%), Rio de Janeiro (5.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-2.4%). In São Paulo's industry, wearing apparel (-28.0%), fabricated metal products (-10.4%) and paper and press (-11.0%) exerted the greatest negative impact on the industry. In Rio de Janeiro, the industry’s negative highlights were food and beverages (-20.8%), wearing apparel (-16.6%) and fabricated metal products (-31.3%). In Rio Grande do Sul, footwear and leather exerted the negative pressure (-7.8%). The main positive influence came from Minas Gerais (2.7%).

In the cumulative index of January-April, the number of hours paid decreased 0.2%, similar to the result recorded in March. Eight places and also eight industrial sectors had a negative contribution. Among the areas, negative highlights come from Rio de Janeiro (5.1%), São Paulo (-0.7%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-2.1%). The biggest positive impact was set by Minas Gerais (3.5%).

Among the sectors, the most significant reductions came from wearing apparel (-11.1%), textiles (-6.3%) and paper and press (-5.2%). On the other hand, the main positive contributions were from machinery and equipment (12.8%) and basic metals (8.5%).

Finally, the cumulative index of the last 12 months showed, in April, a decrease of 1.0%, a result close to the one of March (-1.1%). Among the industry sectors, the biggest negative impacts came from wearing apparel (-8.3%) and the manufacture of other products of the manufacturing industry (-8.6%). The areas of biggest negative impacts were São Paulo (-1.5%) and Rio de Janeiro (5.4%).

Payroll has positive indicators against 2003

In April, the payroll of the industry workers fell 2.4% in comparison to the previous month, discounted the seasonal effects. This decrease is more intense than the decrease recorded in March, in the same indicator (-1.0%). In the remaining indicators, however, the payroll of the Brazilian industry presented growth: 7.9% in relation to April last year, 8.8% in the cumulative indicator of the year and 0.6% in the cumulative of the last twelve months.

The indicator of the quarterly moving average grew 0.4% between the quarter closed in March and the quarter closed in April. The growing pace has slowed, but the recovery trend begun in January of this year remained. The level of this indicator in April is the highest since May 2001 (graphic).

In relation to the real average payroll, the result was also favorable in the three main comparisons: April 04/April 03 (8.1%), cumulative of the year (9.5%) and cumulative for the previous twelve months (1.7%).

In the April 04/ April 03 comparison, the real payroll recorded an expansion of 7.9%, a reflex of the positive results in the 14 places surveyed. The biggest positive contribution was recorded in the Southeast Region (7.3%), because of the expansion in the states of São Paulo (6.8%) and Minas Gerais (15.2%).

In São Paulo, the highlight was the strong growth in the production of machinery and equipment (53.0%) and, not as strong, chemical products (16.2%). In Minas Gerais, the great performance can be explained by the sectors of basic metals (20.8%) and mining and quarrying (39.1%). The South Region also registered a good performance (7.7%), with highlights to the manufacturing of means of transportation (21.3%) and food and beverage (8.6%). The three states of this Region had significant results: Paraná with 9.2%, Santa Catarina with 8.5% and Rio Grande do Sul with 6.1%.

In 14 out of the 18 industrial sectors, there was a real increase in payroll. The highest influence was from machinery and equipment (32.7%), chemical products (11.5%), and the manufacturing of means of transportation (8.2%). The negative influences came from metal products (-10.6%) and textiles (-10.5%).

In the cumulative indicator of the year (8.8%), there was also a real increase of the payroll in every area. Southeast Region (8.7%) and São Paulo (9.1%) had the biggest positive contributions. Machinery and equipment was the activity of biggest highlight in these areas: 38.5% in the Southeast and of 47.2% in São Paulo. The South Region has also grown (8.3%), with a spotlight to manufacturing of means of transportation (21.1%). In this Region, the state with the biggest impact was Paraná (8.5%).

Fifteen of the industrial activities investigated recorded a growth. The most significant contributions came from machinery and equipment (29.6%), chemical products (11.9%) and food and beverages (8.5%). The negatives, textiles (-8.9%) and fabricated metal products (-2.0%).

In relation to the average payroll, there was a growth in 16 out of the 18 sectors surveyed in this indicator. Among the places, the highs ranged from 6.7% recorded in Rio de Janeiro and 10.7% in São Paulo (graphic).

Through the analysis of the cumulative indicator of the last twelve months, the real payroll registered its first positive rate (0.6%) in April, confirming, the recovery trend observed since November 2003. As to the average payroll, we can observe a small improvement between March (0.5%) and April (1.7%).