In April, the rate of unemployment (10.8%) was the same as observed in March 2005, but there was a decrease of 2.3 percentage points in relation to April 2004 (13.1%).

In April, the rate of unemployment (10.8%) was the same as observed in March 2005, but there was a decrease of 2.3 percentage points in relation to April 2004 (13.1%).

After three months of recovery in the monthly indicator, the average income has fallen again (-1.8%). In relation to April 2004, the workers’ income increased 0.8%.

The number of workers with a formal contract increased 6.4% compared to April 2004.

Among the activities, only the group mining and quarrying and manufacturing, production and distribution of electricity, gas and water changed significantly in the comparison with March (-2.9%), which represents a reduction of 100 thousand jobs in one month. In SP, the reduction reached 97 thousand jobs in this activity. On the other hand, the sector of domestic services stood out: in one year, the number of workers in the domestic services increased 10.4%.

 

Unemployment Rate

 

In the analysis by areas, in the comparison with March 2005, there was stability in almost all the surveyed areas. Belo Horizonte presented a decrease in this indicator (from 10.7% to 9.5%) and Salvador presented an increase (from 15.7% to 17.0%). In the comparison with April 2004, Belo Horizonte (from 11.4% to 9.5%), Rio de Janeiro (from 10.7% to 8.6%), São Paulo (from 14.5% to 11.4%) and Porto Alegre (from 10.7% to 8.0%) presented significant changes. In Recife and Salvador, the scenario was of stability.

 

 

See below the evolution of the unemployment rate by metropolitan area

Unemployed persons (1)

 

 

 The PME estimated, in April 2005, approximately 2.4 million unemployed persons. This estimate presented stability in relation to March of the current year in the total of the six areas covered by the survey. In the comparison with April 2004, there was a decrease (-17.0%).

 

Among the areas, in the comparison with March 2005, there was stability in Recife, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre; increase in the number of unemployed persons in Salvador (8.6%) and reduction in Belo Horizonte (-11.6%). Compared with April 2004, there was a decrease in Belo Horizonte (-16.8%), Rio de Janeiro (-21.2%), São Paulo (-19.8%) and Porto Alegre (-25.1%).

 

Women are still the majority among the unemployed persons, with their participation increasing around five percentage points in three years: they represented 52.9% in April 2002; 54.4% in April 2003; 56.3% in April 2004; and 57.2% in April 2005.

 

Among the unemployed persons, 20.6% were searching for their first job

Among the unemployed persons, according to the concept of the survey, 20.6% were searching for their first job and 26.3% were the head of the household. In relation to the period of searching: 21.7% had been searching for their job for a period not above 30 days; 46.8%, for a period from 31 days to 6 months; 7.2%, for a period from 7 to 11 months; and 24.4% for a period of at least 1 year. In April 2003, 39.3% of the unemployed persons had completed at least the secondary instruction, a percentage which reached 43.0% in April 2004, and 47.2% in April 2005.

 

Employed Persons

 

From March to April 2005, the total of employed persons did not present a significant change, nevertheless, in the comparison with April 2004, the increase was of 3.3%.

In April, men (56.5%) were the majority of the employed persons in the labor market, while women represented 43.5%. The population from 25 to 49 years old represented 63.9% of the total of the employed persons. The survey also showed that, in 3 years, the percentage of employed persons with 11 years of study increased 5.7 percentage points: from 44.5% in April 2002 it reached 50.2% in April 2005.

Regarding the level of employment (2) (50.5%), there was stability in the labor market, in relation to March 2005, as well as in relation to April 2004.

Regarding the analysis by areas, in the monthly comparison, no metropolitan area presented significant change in this estimate. In relation to April 2004, there was an increase in Recife (1.3 percentage point) and São Paulo (1.6 percentage point). In the other areas the scenario was of stability.

The rate of employment (employed population/economically active population), estimated in 89.2% in April 2005, continued stable in relation to March and increased 2.3 percentage points compared to April 2004.

 

The survey estimated in 56.6% the proportion of persons working in enterprises with 11 or more persons. In the enterprises with six to ten employed persons, this proportion was 6.7%, while in those with up to five employed persons, the proportion was 36.7%.

In April 2004, 47.5% of the employed persons were performing 40 to 44 weekly hours of work and around 34.3% more than 45 weekly hours of work. In the group from 45 to 48 hours, there was an increase of 4.8 percentage points in three years, and in the group over 49 hours, a fall of 4.8 percentage points was recorded.

On the average, 67.9% of the workers, in the six surveyed areas, had the same job for at least 2 years or more; 11.2% between 1 year and less than 2 years; 19.0% between 1 month and less than one year; and only 1.9% were employed in the same job for at least one month. In three years, the period of permanence in the job which equaled or was greater than two years increased 3.1 percentage points. In April 2002 this percentage was 64.8%; reaching 66.9% in April 2003; 67.0% in April 2004; and 67.9% in April 2005.

 

Results of the main groupings of activities:

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

: (17.3% of the employed persons) In the total of the six areas, in relation to March, there was fall of 2.9% in the total of employed persons in this grouping. In the annual comparison, there was not significant statistical change. Among the areas, in the comparison with March, São Paulo (-5.2%) was the only area that did not present stability. In relation to April 2004, only Recife (-12.9%) and Porto Alegre (6.8%) presented significant change.

Construction

: (7.3% of employed persons). In the six areas, there was not change in the comparison with March 2005 and with April 2004. In the analysis by areas, the scenario was of stability in all the areas in both comparisons.

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

: (19.9% of the employed persons). There was stability in relation to March 2005 as well as in relation to April 2004. In the comparison with March 2005, there was stability in all the areas. In the annual comparison, there was change only in Belo Horizonte (11.6%).

Services rendered to companies, rentals, real estate activities and financial mediation

: (13.7% of the employed persons). There was stability in the total of employed persons in relation to March in the total of the six areas. Compared to April 2004, the change was 4.7%. In the analysis by areas, in the monthly comparison there was change in Salvador (-6.3%). In the comparison with April 2004, only Porto Alegre (15.7%) presented significant change.

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

: (15.9% of the employed persons). There was not registered change in this grouping in the monthly comparison. Nevertheless, in the annual comparison, 116 thousand workers entered the labor market, an increase of almost 3.9%. In the analysis by areas, in the comparison with March, Belo Horizonte (6.0%) was the only area with significant change. In the annual comparison, the scenario was of stability in all the areas.

Domestic services

: (8.2% of the employed persons). In the comparison with March 2005, there was not significant change in the total of the six areas. Compared to April 2004, nevertheless, the change was 10.4%. Regarding the analysis by areas, in the comparison with March 2005, the scenario was of stability in all the surveyed areas. In the annual comparison, there were changes in Salvador (16.9%) and in São Paulo (14.2%).

Other services (lodging, transportation, urban sanitation and personal services)

: (16.9% of the employed persons). In the total of the six areas, the scenario was one of stability in both comparisons. Among the areas, there was stability in the monthly comparison and, compared to April 2004, São Paulo (8.3%) was the only area with change.

Analysis by classes of workers in the labor market:

Employees WITH a formal contract in the private sector (3)

: (40.3% of the employed persons). In the total of the six areas, in relation to March, the scenario was one of stability. Compared to April 2004, the change was 6.4%. In the analysis by areas, in the comparison with March, there was only change in Belo Horizonte (4.2%). In relation to April 2004, Recife (10.8%), Salvador (7.2%), Belo Horizonte (11.4%), São Paulo (8.2%) and Porto Alegre (5.8%) presented change.

Employees WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector

: (15.8% of the employed persons). There was stability in both comparisons. In the analysis by areas, there was change in Rio de Janeiro (7.6%) in the monthly comparison, and in Belo Horizonte (-9.1%) in the annual comparison.

Self-employed workers

: (19.0% of the employed persons). In the six metropolitan areas, there was reduction in the monthly comparison (-2.9%) and in the annual comparison (-4.3%). Among the areas, in the monthly comparison, there was not change. Compared to April 2004, the only change observed was in Recife (-11.7%).

 

Working age persons (PIA)

 

In April 2005, the total of persons with 10 years old or over in the six metropolitan areas remained in 38.8 million. In relation to March 2005, the change was of 0.3% and, compared to April 2004, the increase was of 2.4%, which represents, an increase of 891 thousand working age persons in one year.

Women represented, in April 2005, the majority of the working age population (53.5%), and men, 46.5%. By age group, the working age population was the following: 9.3% from 10 to 14 years old; 6.2% from 15 to 17 years old; 15.0% from 18 to 24 years old; 44.5% from 25 to 49 years old; and 25.1% among those that were 50 years old and over. The age group from 16 to 24 years old, target population of the First Job Program, represented, in April 2005, 19.1% of the working age persons (PIA).

 

Economically active persons (PEA)

 

The number of economically active persons (21.9 million) did not present a significant change in both comparisons. Men represented 55.1% of the economically active persons (PEA), and women, 44.9%. By age groups, the result in April 2005 was the following: 0.3% for the age group from 10 to 14 years old; 2.5% from 15 to 17 years old; 18.6% from 18 to 24 years old; 62.0% from 25 to 49 years old and 16.6% from 50 years old and over. The age group from 16 to 24 years old, target population of the First Job Program, represented 20.6% of the economically active persons (PEA).

Among the areas, in the comparison with March 2005, there was a significant change in the PEA only in Porto Alegre (1.8%). In relation to April 2004, there was increase in Salvador (5.7%), São Paulo (1.8%) and Porto Alegre (3.3%). In the other areas, the scenario was of stability.

 

Real average income (4)

In April, the real average income usually earned by the employed persons, in the six metropolitan areas, remained in R$ 938.70, which equals 3.6 minimum wages. In relation to March 2005, there was fall of 1.8% and, in the comparison with April 2004, the scenario was one of recovery: the increase reached 0.8%.

In the comparison with March, Recife (4.8%) and Belo Horizonte (1.4%) presented increase in the workers’ real average income. An opposite trend was observed in Salvador (-1.5%), Rio de Janeiro (-1.1%), São Paulo (-3.3%) and Porto Alegre (-1.5%).

 

Compared to April 2004, there was increase in the workers’ real average income in Recife (9.8%), Belo Horizonte (5.2%), and São Paulo (1.5%). In the other areas, there was a decrease in the income: -2.4% in Salvador; -1.9% in Rio de Janeiro; and –2.0% in Porto Alegre.

Income of classes of workers in the labor market in the monthly comparison

 

In the total of the six areas, there was a decrease in the income of employees with a formal contract in the private sector (-2.6%), with the average income changing from R$ 972.02 to R$ 946.70. The same performance was observed in the category of employees without a formal contract in the private sector (-3.0%), whose average income changed from R$ 623.28 to R$ 604.60. The category of the self-employed workers presented a negative change (-1.0%), with the average income decreasing from R$ 740.44 to R$ 733.30.

Income of the classes of workers in the labor market in the annual comparison

 

For the total of the six areas, there was fall in the income of the employees with a formal contract in the private sector (-2.6%): from R$ 971.84 to R$ 946.70. An opposite behavior was observed for the category of employees without a formal contract in the private sector (4.0%): from R$ 581.3 to R$ 604.60. Regarding the category of self-employed workers, it presented a negative change (-2.9%), with the average income changing from R$ 755.41 to R$ 733.30.

See below the average real income usually earned in the activity groups

Non-economically active population (PNEA)

 

The non-economically active population, not classified by the survey as employed or non-employed, was estimated, for the total of the six metropolitan areas investigated in April 2005, in 16.8 millions, being 64.6% women and 35.4%, men. This indicator presented stability in relation to March 2005. In the comparison with April 2004, this estimate presented an increase of 4.6%, which means, 745 thousand persons.

Persons under 18 years old and with 50 years old and over represented 31.9% and 36.1%, respectively, of the non-economically active population but only 2.8% and 16.6%, respectively, of the economically active population (PEA). In the contingent of the PNEA, 15.8% would like to work and were available to start a job if they could get one. However, only 5.3% worked or were searching for a job in the previous year (marginally connected to the PEA). In relation to the scholarship, 79.3% had not yet completed the secondary instruction.

 

^{1 Persons were classified as unemployed because they were nor working, because they were avaliable to work in the week of reference, and because they had taken effective and necessary steps to get a work in the thirty previous days of the week in which they answered the survey.}

^{2 Proportion of employed persons in relation to the working age population (PIA).}

^{3 Excluding private household worker, military, public and statutory servants and other employees of the public sector.} 

^{4 Income usually earned. The deflator used for the calculation of the real income for each area is the Consumer Price Index of the metropolitan area produced by IBGE. In order to calculate the income of the total of the six metropolitan areas covered by the survey, the deflator is the weighed average of the price indexes of these areas. The weighing variable is the resident population in the urban area of the metropolitan area.}