Rate increased 0.6 percentage point in relation to December, but fell 1.5 percentage point in relation to January 2004. Also in the annual comparison, the number of workers with a formal contract increased 3.9% and those without a formal contract, 8.1%. The income increased 2.2%, in relation to December, as well as in relation to January 2004. In the month, the only metropolitan area with fall in the unemployment rate was Rio de Janeiro (from 8.5% to 7.4%).

In January 2005, the unemployment rate (10.2%) remained 0.6 percentage point above the one of December (9.6%) and 1.5 percentage point below the one of January 2004 (11.7%).

In the analysis by areas, in relation to December 2004, there were observed significant changes in Belo Horizonte (from 8.5% to 9.8%), Rio de Janeiro (from 8.5% to 7.4%) and São Paulo (from 9.8% to 11.1%) and stability in the other areas. In relation to January 2004, only Belo Horizonte (from 12.3% to 9.8%), Rio de Janeiro (from 8.9% to 7.4%) and São Paulo (from 12.9 to 11.1) presented significant changes.

EMPLOYED PERSONS

In January 2005, the number of employed persons in the six metropolitan areas investigated by the PME was estimated in 19.5 millions. This total fell 1.4% in relation to December, although it grew 4.1% in relation to January 2004.

Men continued to be the majority of the employed persons (56.6%) in the labor market, while women represented 43.4%. The age group from 25 to 49 years old represented 63.8% of the total of the employed persons. The percentage of the employed persons with 11 years old or more of study was 49.6%, an indicator that is gradually growing: it increased from 45.9% in January of 2003 to 48.0% in January 2004.

The PME estimated in 55.5% of the employed persons (PO), the proportion of persons working in enterprises with 11 or more employed persons. In enterprises with 6 to 10 employed persons, this proportion was 7.1%, while 37.4% worked in enterprises with a maximum of five employed persons.

Mining and quarrying industry,manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water

(17.8% of the employed persons). In the total of the six areas, in the monthly comparison there was not observed a change. In the annual comparison, the change was of 4.0% or, approximately 132 thousand persons. In relation to December, there were changes only in the metropolitan area of Salvador (-9.5%) and, in relation to January 2004, changes were observed in Salvador (-14.6%) and São Paulo (6.4%).

Construction

(7.3% of the employed persons) In the total of the six areas, in the monthly comparison, there was fall (-4.5%) and in the annual comparison, stability. In relation to December, there were statistically significant changes only in Belo Horizonte (-8.7%). In relation to January 2004, the scenario was of stability in all the areas.

Trade, automotive vehicle repairs and personal and domestic objects and retail fuel trade

(20.0% of the employed persons) There was stability in the monthly comparison and hike of 3.6% in the annual comparison. By areas, in relation to December, there was stability and in the annual comparison, only Salvador changed (8.1%).

Services provided to companies, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation

(13.8% of the employed persons). There was stability in relation to the previous month in the total of the six areas. Compared to January 2004, the change was of 7.6%. In the analysis by areas, there was not change in the monthly comparison and, in the annual comparison, only Rio de Janeiro (7.9%) and São Paulo (11.5%) presented significant changes.

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

(15.2% of the employed persons) There was stability in both comparisons for the total of the six areas. In the monthly comparison by areas, there weren’t significant changes and in the annual comparison, only Belo Horizonte presented change (8.0%).

Domestic services

(8.0% of the employed persons). In the comparison with December, for the total of the six areas, there wasn’t a significant change but compared to January 2004, the change was of 10.7%. In the analysis by areas, in the monthly comparison, there were changes only in Porto Alegre (-10.5%). In the comparison with January 2004, Recife (37.1%), Salvador (16.4%) and São Paulo (11.0%) presented significant changes.

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

(17.1% of the employed persons). There wasn’t statistically significant change in relation to December, for the total of the six areas. In the comparison with January 2004, the change was of 3.7%. In relation to December there was an increase of 3.8% in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, decreases in Belo Horizonte (-9.2%) and São Paulo (-4.9%), and stability in the others areas. In the comparison with January 2004, Salvador (14.7%) was the only metropolitan area with significant change.

Classes of workers in the labor market

Employees WITH a formal contract in the private sector

¹ (39.7% of the employed persons) No significant change was observed for the total of the six areas, compared to December. In relation to January 2004, there was increase of 3.9%. In the analysis by areas, in relation to December, there was not observed change. In relation to January 2004, there was change in Recife (8.1%), Belo Horizonte (5.8%) and Rio de Janeiro (5.4%).

Employees WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector

¹ (16.2% of the employed persons). There was fall of 3.2% in relation to December and hike of 8.1% in the annual comparison. In the analysis by areas, in relation to December, there were falls in Recife (-8.3%) and Belo Horizonte (-9.7). In the annual comparison, there were increases in Salvador (16.4%), Belo Horizonte (10.9%), São Paulo (9.7%) and Porto Alegre (16.7%).

Self-employed workers

(19.8% of the employed persons) There were not changes in the total of the six areas. In relation to December, by areas, there was change in Salvador (-6.5%) and in the annual comparison, in Recife (-8.7%).

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS (PD)

There was an increase of 5.0% (approximately 105 thousand unemployed persons) in relation to December, and fall of 10.9% in relation to January 2004. In the analysis by areas, in relation to December, there were changes in Belo Horizonte (14.4%), Rio de Janeiro (-14.5%) and São Paulo (13.2%). In relation to January 2004, there were falls in Belo Horizonte (-19.2%), Rio de Janeiro (-14.3%) and São Paulo (-12.1%), and stability in the other metropolitan areas.

The major part of the unemployed persons continued to be women: 52.8% in January 2003, 54.4% in January 2004 and 56.9% in January 2005. Still, among the unemployed persons, 21.0% were searching for their first job and 26.1% were responsible for their families. In relation to the period of job search: 27.3% were searching for a job for 30 days or less; 39.0% between 31 days and 6 months; 7.92% between 6 and 12 months; and 25.8% for at least one year. In January 2002, 37.1% of the unemployed persons had completed at least secondary school, in January 2003 they were 39.0%, in January 2004, 42.2% and in the last survey, 46.2%.

REAL AVERAGE INCOME

In January, the real average income usually earned by the employed persons was on the average, in the six investigated areas, R$ 919.80. This result was a hike of 2.2% in relation to last December and January 2005.

There was fall in the average income in Recife (-2.3%), Salvador (-1.3%) and Porto Alegre (-0.4%), and increases in the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte (4.2%), Rio de Janeiro (3.2%) and São Paulo (2.6%). In relation to January 2004, there was a fall in the income of Recife (-0.6%), Salvador (-2.6%) and Porto Alegre (-4.7%), and hikes in Belo Horizonte (2.4%), Rio de Janeiro (8.6%) and São Paulo (1.8%).

There was a hike of 0.6% in the income of the employees with a formal contract in the private sector, with the average income value passing from R$ 926.03 to R$ 931.20. A major change occurred among the employees without a formal contract in the private sector (7.5%), from R$ 579.21 to R$ 622.90. Among the self-employed workers there was also an increase (3.0%), from R$ 697.87 to R$ 719.10.

There was a fall in the income of the employees with a formal contract in the private sector (-1.3%), from R$ 943.69 to R$ 931.20. Among the employees without a formal contract in the private sector there was an increase (9.6%) from R$ 568.16 to R$ 622.90, and among the self-employed workers there was a fall (-1.1%) from R$ 726.83 to R$ 719.10.

NON-ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE PERSONS (PNEA)

The population with 10 years old or more, not classified as employed or unemployed summed 17.0 millions. In relation to the month of December 2004 there was a hike of 1.7% and in the annual comparison, an increase of 2.5%. In the PNEA, 64.4% were women and 35.6% men, while among those economically active the women represented 44.8% and the men, 55.2%.

The age groups below 18 years old and with 50 years old and over represented 31.4% and 35.6%, respectively, of the PNEA, but only 2.9% and 16.6%, respectively, of the PEA.

In the contingent of the PNEA, 16.8% would like to work and were willing to start a job if they could find one. Nevertheless, only 6.2% worked in the previous year or searched for a job in this period (marginally connected to PEA). It should be registered, still, that 0.1% of the inactive persons declared they had given up to search for a job since they had not found any type of work or a work suitable with his or her qualifications. In relation to the scholarship, 78.7% had not completed the secondary level.

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¹ Excluding private household worker, military, public and statutory servants and other employees of the public sector.