Rate of unemployment fell in relation to August (11.4%) and in relation to September of the previous year (12.9%). Also in relation to September 2003, the number of unemployed fell 14.8%, the employed population increased 3.6% and the persons of active-age-PIA increased 1.9%. The proportion of employed in relation to PIA reached its highest level (51.5%) since March 2002. The income of the workers increased vis-à-vis August (1.7% ) and September 2003 (3.2% ).

The unemployment rate presented again a retraction in September 2004, decreasing from 11.4% in August to 10.9% in September. There was a fall in relation to September 2003 (12.9%), and also in relation to September 2002 (11.5%).

The unemployment rate was estimated in 8.8% for men and in 13.4% for women. Both fell, although the unemployment rate drop was deeper for women: 0.8 percentage point in relation to August and 2.7 percentage points in relation to September 2003.

The grouping of construction was the one that presented the highest unemployment rate (7.5%), although it showed the largest drop in the annual comparison. (1.9 percentage point).

In relation to August, the unemployment changed only in the metropolitan area of São Paulo: fall of 0.9 percentage point. Regarding the annual comparison, there were important changes in almost all the investigated metropolitan areas. Only in Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro stability was observed.

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS (PD)

In September, there were 2.4 million persons unemployed in the six investigated areas, a fall of 3.7% in relation to August, but the result was not statistically significant. São Paulo was the only area that recorded a significative change (-6.8%), in the contingent of unemployed, in relation to August 2004.

In relation to September 2003, there was an important fall (-14.8%) in the unemployed population in the total of the six areas, due to the results from Recife (-19.0%), São Paulo (-21.0%) and Porto Alegre (-13.7%).

REAL AVERAGE INCOME

Estimated in R$ 910.10, the real average income usually earned by the worker presented a positive change in both comparisons: recovery of 1.7% and 3.2%, compared respectively to August 2004 and to the same month of the previous year.

Four of the six investigated areas presented recovery in this indicator in the comparison with August 2004: Salvador (2.1%), Belo Horizonte (0.6%), Rio de Janeiro (3.5%) and São Paulo (1.6%). Porto Alegre was the only area that presented fall in the income (-0.9%). In Recife stability was observed. In relation to September of the previous year the result was positive in Recife (5.2%), Salvador (1.4%), Belo Horizonte (5.4%) and São Paulo (5.7%). Rio de Janeiro (-0.3%) and Porto Alegre (-0.6%) presented real income loss.

In September 2004, the real average income usually earned by the employees with a formal contract in the private sector (R$ 929.20) presented a small growth (0.2%) in the monthly comparison and a more significative increase (2.1%) vis-à-vis September 2003.

The income of employees without a formal contract in the private sector (R$ 577.00) fell (-0.9%) in the monthly comparison and was stable in relation to September of the previous year. There was a positive change (1.0%) in the monthly comparison of the self-employed workers income (R$ 713.60). In the comparison with September 2003 the scenario was of stability.

EMPLOYED PERSONS

In September 2004, there were 19.4 million persons developing an activity in the labor market in the six metropolitan areas investigated by the Monthly Employment Survey (PME). There was a hike of 1.0% in relation to August and of 3.6% (or more 665 thousand persons employed) in relation to September 2003.

The level of employment (proportion of employed persons in relation to the active age population) reached 51.5%, the highest level since March 2002. In the total of the six investigated areas, the changes that were observed were the following: 0.5 percentage point in relation to August and 0.9 percentage point in the comparison with September 2003. Regarding the areas, in relation to the previous year, significant changes were observed in this indicator in Salvador (2.2 percentage points), Belo Horizonte (1.1 percentage point) and Rio de Janeiro (1.3 percentage point).

Mining and quarrying, manufacturing and distribution of electricity, gas and water (17.8% of employed persons.) In the comparison with August 2004, stability was observed for the total of the six areas and for each area analysed separately. The exception was the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, where a raise of 5.9% was observed. The industry in that area summed 24.3% of the employed population.

In relation to September 2003, for the total of the six areas, a growth of 5.5% was observed, as a consequence of the results in Salvador (12.2%), Belo Horizonte (7.7%) and Porto Alegre (7.0%). The industry had the third major change among the groupings of activity.

Construction

(6.9% of employed persons) No statistically significant change was observed, in relation to August 2004 (-2.2%) and in relation to September 2003 (-3.7%), for the total of the six areas. In both comparisons stability was observed for all the areas covered by the survey.

Trade

(19.6% of employed persons) In the monthly comparison, a scenario of stability was observed in this activity sector for the total of the six areas and also for each area analysed separately.

In relation to September of the previous year, stability was observed for the total of the six areas (2.3%). For the fourth consecutive month, a significant growth was recorded in Belo Horizonte (10.0%).

Services provided to companies, rentals, real-estate activities and financial intermediation

(13.8% of employed population) In the total of the six areas, stability was observed in relation to August 2004 (2.2%) and September 2003 (3.7%). There was a significant change in Salvador: fall of 7.2%, in relation to August. In the comparison with September 2003, only São Paulo presented a significant change (8.3%).

Education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security

(15.6% of employed persons) A scenario of stability was observed in the total of the six areas and in each area analysed separately.

Domestic Services

(8.1% of employed persons) In the comparison with August, there was not observed a significant change, for the total of the six areas. In the annual comparison, the largest growth of the series was recorded: 11.0%.

In both comparisons, stability was observed in all areas, with the exception of Rio de Janeiro where the growth that began last month was verified in relation to August (8.3%) and September 2003 (21.7%). São Paulo (10.4%) and Porto Alegre (13.7%) also recorded significant growths.

Other services (lodging, transport, urban sanitation and personal services

) (17.5% of the employed population) In this grouping the highest increase for the total of the six areas was observed in the number of workers in both comparisons: 3.5% compared to August 2004 and 6.2% in relation to September 2003.

Regarding the areas separately, in the comparison with August, there was an increase only in Recife (8.6%). In the comparison with September 2003, there were increases in Salvador (20.7%), Belo Horizonte (8.1%) and Rio de Janeiro (7.4%).

Employees WITH a formal contract in the private sector

¹ (38.8% of the employed persons) It was observed a significant change in this category in the labor market, for the total of the six areas, in relation to August (1.6%) and in relation to September of the previous year (3.0%). In relation to August, São Paulo presented an increase of 2.7% (more 89 thousand workers with a formal contract). In relation to September 2003 only Recife (8.3%) and Belo Horizonte (9.1%) recorded changes.

Employees WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector

¹ (15.9% of the employed persons) This category in the labor market was stable in relation to August for the total of the six areas. In relation to September 2003, it was observed change only in Belo Horizonte (14.8%).

Self-employed workers

(20.4% of the employed persons) No changes were observed in this indicator for the total of the six areas, in both comparisons. In the analysis by areas, only Salvador recorded growth in the monthly (6.6%) and annual (24.3%) comparisons.

PERSONS OF ACTIVE AGE (PIA)

The Persons of Active Age (persons with 10 years old and over) were estimated in 37.6 millions and the rate grew 1.9% in relation to September 2003 (more 694 thousand persons). Men represented 46.8% and women 53.2% of PIA, and 69.2% of this population was older than 25 years old.

The results according to the distribution by age groups were the following: 9.3% from 10 to 14 years old, 6.1% from 15 to 17 years old, 15.4% from 18 to 24 years old, 44.8% from 25 to 49 years old and 24.4% from 50 years old and over.

ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE PERSONS (PEA)

In September, 21.7 million economically active persons were verified in the six covered areas. In the analysis by gender, men represented 54.9% and women 45.1%. The results according to the distribution by age groups were the following: from 10 to 14 years old (0.3%), from 15 to 17 years old (2.6%), from 18 to 24 years old (18.9%), from 25 to 49 years old (61.6%), from 50 years old and over (16.5%). It can be observed that 97.0% of the population that was working or that was searching for a job in the six main metropolitan areas of the Country had 18 years old and over.

The PEA grew 1.2% (more 252 thousand persons) in relation to September of the previous year, in the six surveyed areas, increasing 0.6% in the total of men and 1.9% in the total of women.

In the comparison with August 2004, the scenario was of stability for the total of the six investigated areas. In relation to September of the previous year, the PEA increased in the metropolitan areas of Salvador (4.8%), Belo Horizonte (3.3%) and Rio de Janeiro (2.8%).

_____________________________________________________________________

¹ The unemployment rate by groupings of activity is the ratio between the unemployed persons that worked in the last year in a specific grouping and the economically active population of this grouping.

² Excluding private household worker, military, public and statutory servants and other employees in the public sector.