Employment hiked 2.2% in relation to March 2004 – the thirteenth positive consecutive rate in this comparison – and increased in eleven among fourteen surveyed localities. The real value of the payroll in the industry increased for the fourth consecutive month, with hike of 1.4% in the month and increased in thirteen among fourteen surveyed regions. Number of paid hours by the industries decreased in 1.0% from February to March, but increased 1.5% in relation to March 2004.

In March, the industrial employment presented a negative change (-0.2%) in relation to February, in the series without seasonal influence. In comparison with March 2004, there was a hike of 2.2%, the thirteenth consecutive positive result in this indicator. In the first quarter of 2005, compared to same period of 2004, there was a hike of 2.7%, but fall of 0.1% against the same quarter of 2004 (series with seasonal adjustment). In the comparison quarter/previous quarter, the indexes of the level of employment were positive since the period January-March 2004 (1.1%), with hike of 0.7% in the second quarter of that year, 1.6% in July-September and 0.7% in the last quarter. The accumulated index in the last twelve months (2.7%) had a slight acceleration compared to February (2.5%).

The negative rate of 0.2% between February and March maintains the quarterly moving average index stable (0.1%) between the quarters closed in March and February.

Industrial employment increased in eleven of fourteen surveyed localities, in relation to March 2004In relation to March 2004, the increase of 2.2% resulted, mainly, from the admissions observed in eleven of 14 localities and eleven of the eighteen surveyed segments. The main responsible for the positive impacts in the overall result came from São Paulo (2.2%), Minas Gerais (4.9%) and North and Central West Regions (6.0%). In the industry of São Paulo, food products and beverages (13.3%) and transportation (14.0%) were the highlights among the eleven groups of industry that increased the number of employed persons. Regarding the industry of Minas Gerais, thirteen segments employed more, and the highlights were metal products (28.6%) and transportation (11.6%). In the North and Central West Regions, the significant rate was determined by the good performance of the segment of food products and beverages (13.6%), due to the dynamism of the agribusiness. The major negative impact came from Rio Grande do Sul
(-4.4%), due mainly, to the expressive fall of food products and leather articles (-18.3%).

Regarding the segments, the main positive contributions in the overall result came from the industries of food products and beverages (5.6%), transportation (13.3%) and machines and equipment (3.8%). Regarding food products and leather articles (-9.0%) and apparel (-2.4%), they represented the more relevant negative impacts.

The industrial employment increased 2.7% in the accumulated index of the first quarter of the year, with the number of workers growing in twelve localities and in eleven surveyed segments. The major positive pressures came from São Paulo (2.4%), Minas Gerais (5.0%), North and Central West Regions (5.7%), Paraná (6.0%) and Santa Catarina (5.5%). On the other hand, Rio Grande do Sul, with fall of 2.7%, followed by Rio de Janeiro (-0.7%) were the only industries with reduction in the employment in the period. In the analysis by segments, the highlights were food products and beverages (5.4%), transportation (13.8%) and machines and equipment (7.4%). The main negative influences in the overall result came from footwear and leather (-7.1%) and apparel (-3.8%).

The quarterly analysis shows that, after an ascending trend since the beginning of 2004, the industrial employment increases in a more moderate rhythm in the first quarter of 2005. The reduction in the rhythm of expansion in the employment between the last quarter of 2004 (4.2%) and the first quarter of 2005 (2.7%), is also observed in all the surveyed localities, with the exception of Santa Catarina, where the rate passes from 4.8% to 5.5% between the two periods.

The accumulated index in the last twelve months presents growth of 2.7%. The major positive and negative impacts, respectively, came from the groups of machines and equipment (13.0%) and apparel (-5.6%). São Paulo (2.4%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-1.2%) presented, respectively, the major positive and negative pressures.

Number of paid hours fell 1.0% in relation to February

In March, the total of hours paid to the workers of the industry decreased 1.0% in relation to February (with seasonal adjustments) after the expansion of 1.3% in February. In relation to the same month of the previous year there was growth (1.5%). The broadening indicators continued positive: in the accumulated index of the year (2.0%) and in the last twelve months (2.6%). The average number of daily hours of work in the month of March decreased in the three main indicators: -0.6% (monthly), -0.7% (accumulated in the year) and –0.1% (accumulated in the last twelve months).

The quarterly moving average fell 0.2% in the number of paid hours from February to March. This trend can also be observed in the quarterly comparison quarter/ immediately previous quarter (series with seasonal adjustment): the decrease of 0.1% breaks a sequence of four quarters with positive rates.

In the comparison March 05/March 04, the indicator of hours paid increased 1.5%, due mainly, to the positive behavior of ten among fourteen surveyed activities. The sectors which more contributed for this growth, were the following: food products and beverages (5.1%), transportation (10.5%) and machines and equipment (3.1%). On the other hand, the main falls were footwear and leather (-10.1%), apparel (-2.1%) and paper and printing (-1.7%).

Still in this comparison, by region, the major positive influences came from São Paulo (1.8%), Minas Gerais (4.6%) and North and Central West Regions (5.6%). In São Paulo, food products and beverages (13.3%), transportation (9.7%) and textile (6.3%) were the sectors where it was more observed increase in the number of paid hours. In Minas Gerais, the main increases came from metal products (32.0%) and transportation (14.7%). In the North and Central West Regions, the main increments were observed in food products and beverages (12.3%). Among the regions which reduced the number of paid hours, Rio Grande do Sul (-6.3%), was the main decrease, due to footwear and leather (-20.9%) and other products of the manufacturing industry (-13.7%).

The accumulated index in the first quarter, in relation to same period of the previous year, increased 2.0%, with gains in ten among eighteen industrial sectors and twelve among fourteen surveyed localities. Among the sectors that recorded positive rates, we can observe food products and beverages (5.9%), transportation (11.4%) and machines and equipment (6.8%). There was decrease in the hours paid of footwear and leather (-9.3%), apparel (-3.6%) and other products of the manufacturing industry (-2.8%). In the analysis by regions, the major positive influences in the overall result came from São Paulo (1.6%), Minas Gerais (4.8%), Santa Catarina (5.3%) and North and Central West Regions (5.0%). On the other hand, Rio Grande do Sul (-4.3%) and Rio de Janeiro (-2.0) were the only localities to recoil.

The accumulated index in the last twelve months increased 2.6%, growing in twelve among eighteen sectors and in twelve among fourteen localities. The major impacts came from machines and equipment (13.4%), food products and beverages (4.0%) and transportation (11.2%). In the analysis by regions, the main positive influences came from São Paulo (2.2%), Minas Gerais (5.7%) and North and Central West Regions (5.9%).

Payroll increases for the fourth consecutive month and growths 1.4% in relation to February

For the fourth consecutive month, payroll increases in the Brazilian industry, having accumulated in this period a hike of 7.8% (in the comparison March 05/ November 04). Between February and March there is a positive change of 1.4%, after being seasonally adjusted. The quarterly moving average index confirms the hike, with gain of 2.4% between the quarters closed in February and March of this year. Considering the comparison with the last quarter of the previous year, we observe an increase of 6.3%.

In the other indicators, the value of the real payroll in the industry continues showing growth: 4.5% in relation to March 2004, 3.6% in the accumulated index of the first quarter of 2005 and 8.0% in the accumulated index of the last twelve months. Regarding the real average payroll we can also observe positive results considering the main comparisons: 2.2% in the monthly, 0.8% in the accumulated in the year and 5.1% in the last twelve months.

Payroll increases in thirteen among fourteen surveyed localities

In relation to March 2004, the real payroll increased 4.5%, with hikes in thirteen among fourteen surveyed localities. The industry of Minas Gerais (19.8%) answers, as in the previous month, for the contribution of major impact in the formation of the overall index. Also, stood out the positive pressures, although in a lower scale that came from São Paulo (1.1%), Rio de Janeiro (7.7%), North and Central West Regions (8.4%) and Paraná (7.0%).

Still in this comparison, regarding the sectors, there were hikes in twelve out of eighteen surveyed sectors, being the increment of major influence in the overall result with mining and quarrying industries (49.2%), followed by transportation (8.1%), machines and equipment (9.8%) and food products and beverages (6.8%). On the other hand, paper and printing (-8.6%) and non-metallic minerals (-10.1%) present the main negative impacts in the real payroll.

In the comparison with same quarter of previous year, hikes occurred for five consecutive quarters, although with the deceleration in the growth of the value of the payroll since the end of last year. In the first quarter of 2005, the hike of 3.6% was lower than the one of the previous period (9.7%). The localities that more lost in the period October-December against the first quarter of this year were São Paulo (from 11.1% to 1.6%), Ceará (from 12.0% to 5.0%), North and Central West Regions (from 10.2% to 6.2%) and Rio de Janeiro (from 9.7% to 3.4%).

In the accumulated index of the first quarter of 2005 there was a hike of 3.6% in the value of the real payroll, with eleven among eighteen industrial investigated activities influencing positively the overall index. The groups transportation (10.2%), machines and equipment (11.4%) and food products and beverages (8.0%) present the more relevant negative influences. By its way, paper and printing (-7.5%) and non-metallic minerals (-7.9%) are the main negative influences. Minas Gerais (13.0%) and São Paulo (1.6%) indicated the major positive contributions, while Pernambuco recorded the only negative rate (-0.2%). The positive pressures upon the real payroll in these states came, mainly, from the sectors metal products (79.9%) and mining and quarrying industries (41.2%), in the industry of Minas; transportation (10.5%) and machines and equipment (13.2%), in the industry of São Paulo; and food products and beverages (-5.1%), in the industry of Pernambuco.

The average real payroll, according to the accumulated indicator in the first quarter of the year, increases 0.8%, with ten localities and eight sectors presenting gains in relation to the same period of 2004. In the analysis by regions the major expansions came from Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais (both with 7.6%). Regarding the sectors, the highlights, in terms of magnitude of the rate, remained with the mining and quarrying industries (5.6%) and footwear and leather (5.0%).

The accumulated indicator in the last twelve months presents positive results, although falling in the last three months: 9.3% up to January, 8.6% up to February and 8.0% up to March. Among the investigated areas, all indicated positive rates in the value of the payroll.

In synthesis, the indicators for the industrial labor market presented a slowdown between the fourth quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005, following in this way the loss in the rhythm of growth of the industrial production that was observed from the third to the fourth quarter of 2004.