The unemployment rate was 9.6% in September , after having remained stable for three consecutive months (9.4%), according to IBGE’s Monthly Employment Survey (PME). The change by 0.2 percentage points over August was not statistically significant...

The unemployment rate in September was 9.6%, after having remained stable for three consecutive months (9.4%), according to IBGE’s Monthly Employment Survey. The change by 0.2 percentage points over August was not statistically significant, a factor which contributed to a scenario of stability in the job market. In relation to September 2004, the unemployment rate fell by 1.3 percentage points.

After a three-month upward trend, the income of workers, estimated to be R$974.90, also remained stable in relation to August (when it was R$ 974.96). An important factor contributing to this result was the fall occurred in the metropolitan area of São Paulo (-1.2%), although this indicator has presented positive change in almost all the areas surveyed.

PME, which covers the metropolitan areas of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Salvador and Porto Alegre, registered an increase of the activity rate [1] (57% in September versus 56.5% in August). In comparison with the figures in September 2004, this indicator decreased (-0.8 percentage points) due to the reduction of the number of unemployed persons.

From August to September, PME showed, for the group of six areas, the presence of about 175 thousand new workers in the job market. This number was not enough, however, to alter the level of occupation (51.5%), which remained stable.

The metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte was the only one to present significant change in the estimate of employed persons (2.6%). In this area, the number of workers without a formal contract changed by 10.9% in September, that is, a total of about 28 thousand workers.

Rio de Janeiro was the highlight this time, once it presented increase of formal work (4.0%), or about 72 thousand workers with a formal contract.

 

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

As mentioned previously, the unemployment rate in September, for the group of six areas surveyed, was 9.6%. This result points to stability in relation to August (9.4%). Compared to September 2004, when the rate was 10.9%, there was decrease (-1.3 percentage points)

By area, in comparison with August 2005, the increase of the number of unemployed persons, associated with the stability of the number of employed persons, resulted in an increase of the unemployment rate in Recife (from 13.4% to 15.0%) and in Porto Alegre (from 7.6% to 8.4%). In the remaining regions, there was stability.

In comparison with September 2004, there were positive changes in the unemployment rate of the metropolitan areas of Recife (from 12.4% to 15.0%), Belo Horizonte (from 10.2% to 8.1%), Rio de Janeiro (from 8.8% to 7.4%) and São Paulo (from 11.7% to 9.7%).

The chart below shows the evolution the unemployment rate by metropolitan area:

 UNEMPLOYED POPULATION (PD) [1]

The number of unemployed persons (2.1 million) was stable in relation to August 2005. Decrease of 10.9% was observed in relation to September 2004.

At regional level, in the comparison August/September, changes in the metropolitan areas of Recife (13.7%) and Porto Alegre (12.3%) were observed. In comparison with September 2004, there was increase of the number of unemployed persons in Recife (23.9%), whereas in Belo Horizonte (-19.4%), Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (-16.5%) there was decrease. In the remaining areas, there was stability.

Women still make up most of the unemployed population in September 2005: 56.1% of the total, the biggest participation since 2002. In September 2004, women accounted for 55.6% of the unemployed population; in 2003, for 55.8%; in September 2002, for 53.2%.

In terms of age groups, among the unemployed, 7.9% were between 15 and 17 years old; 39.3% between 18 and 24 years old; 46.1% between 25 and 49 years old; and 6.1 were 50 years old or over.

Considering unemployed persons, in September, 20.4% had been searching for their first job and 26.3% were head of the household. In relation to the job-searching period, 23.3% had been searching for a period no longer than 30 days; 42.6% from 31 days to 6 months; 10.9% from 7 to eleven months; and 23.2% for a period of at least 1 year.

As for the level of education, the PME of September showed that 45% of the unemployed persons had finished at least high school. It was the highest percentage in this month since 2002, when 37% of the unemployed persons were in the same situation. In 2003, the figure was 40.0%; and in September 2004, 43.4%.

 

EMPLOYED POPULATION (PO)

The number of employed persons, estimated to be 20.1 million in September 2005, increased by 0.9% in comparison with August (19.9 million). In comparison with September 2004, there was increase of 2.3%, that is, 446 thousand people.

At regional level, in comparison with August, only the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte had significant positive change (2.6%). In relation to September 2004, increase in the metropolitan areas of Salvador (3.1%), Belo Horizonte (3.2%), São Paulo (3.5%) and Porto Alegre was observed. In the other areas, there was stability of this indicator.

Considering the level of occupation (51.5%), the results showed stability of the job market in both comparisons (September/ August and September/ September 2004). At regional level, in the monthly comparison, the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte was the only one without stability (1.2 percentage points), differently from all the other areas, when results are compared to those of September 2004.

The unemployment rate (employed population/economically active population), estimated to be 90.4%, did no present change in comparison with August. In relation to September 2004, increase by 1.3 percentage points was observed.

In September this year, men accounted for 56.2% of the employed population; women for 43.8%. Among the employed persons, 63.6% were between 25 and 49 years old, and the percentage of employed persons having 11 or more years of schooling was 50.4%.

Regarding the size of enterprises, the PME of September showed that 56.2% of the employed population worked for companies with 11 or more employees. Considering companies with 6 to 10 people, the figure was 6.3%, whereas for those with a maximum of five employees, it was 37.5%. According to the survey, 47% of the employed persons had, in September, a total 40 to 44 working hours per week, and about 34.9% worked over 45 hours a week. On average, 67.2% of the workers in the six areas surveyed had been in the same company for at least 2 years; 19.6% between one month and one year. Only 2.2% had worked for the same company for less than a month.

 

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYS 88 THOUSAND NEW WORKERS 

Mining and quarrying and manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity gas and water (17.7% of the PO). In the six areas surveyed, there was stability of this group considering the monthly and annual comparisons. In the monthly comparison, there was significant change in Belo Horizonte (5.5%). Over September 2004, change was observed only in São Paulo (6.1%).

Construction (7.2% of the PO). There was stability in all the areas in comparison with August 2005. Over September 2004, the highlight is the presence of 88 thousand workers, an increase of about 6.5%. No significant changes over August were observed in any of the areas surveyed, but, in the annual comparison, Rio de Janeiro presented a 10.7% increase, a total of 37 thousand workers.

Trade, repair of automotive vehicles, personal and domestic objects and retail fuel trade (19.4% of the PO). This group remained stable in both comparisons (monthly and annual). In the annual comparison, in Porto Alegre the index increased by 12.4%, about 38 thousand workers.

Services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation (

14.4% of the PO). This group also remained stable in relation to August, but changed significantly (6.3%) in comparison with September 2004. There were no changes in the areas concerning the monthly comparison, whereas in the annual one, there was increase only in Rio de Janeiro (7.2%).

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

15.6% of the PO). No significant changes were observed in any of the six areas in either comparison.. At regional level, only in the metropolitan area of Salvador did the index change by 13.1% over September 2004.

Domestic services (8.3% of the PO). No significant changes were observed in either comparison. At regional level, in comparison with August, there was stability; in the annual comparison, there was change in São Paulo (12.7%).

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

16.9% of the PO). There was stability in the six areas in both comparisons (monthly and annual). At regional level, the only change occurred in Salvador: decrease of 8.7% over September 2004.

 

FORMAL EMPLOYMENT GROWS IN RELATION TO 2004

Workers WITH a formal contract in the private sector [1] (

40.2% of the PO).

In relation to August 2005, the number of workers with a formal contract was stable. Over September 2004, there was increase of 5.8%, that is, of about 440 thousand persons. At regional level, in the monthly comparison, there were changes only in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro (4.0%). In relation to September 2004, there were changes in São Paulo (7.7%) and Porto Alegre (7.8%).

Workers WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector (

15.4% of the PO).

This estimate remained stable in both comparisons (monthly and annual). At regional level, in comparison with August 2005, there was increase only in Belo Horizonte (10.9%). Over September 2004, there was change only in the metropolitan are of Salvador (13.7%) and Belo Horizonte (-8.6%).

Own-account workers (

19.6% of the PO).

No significant changes were observed in any of the six areas in either comparison. There was only annual regarding the annual comparison in the metropolitan areas of Salvador (-8.01%) and Belo Horizonte (8.5%).

 

REAL AVERAGE INCOME [2]

The chart below shows the evolution of the real average income of the employed population, by metropolitan area.

After following an upward trend for three months, the income of workers was stable in September, in comparison with August (R$974.90 versus R$ 974.96). In comparison with September 2004, the scenario of recovery was maintained (2.0%). Although the income has increased in almost all the areas surveyed, the decrease of 1.2% in the metropolitan area of São Paulo was significant, having caused stability of the overall indicator.

The analysis by area, in the monthly comparison, shows recovery in four areas surveyed: Recife (6.9%), Salvador (3.3%), Belo Horizonte (0.4%) and Porto Alegre (1.0%). In Rio de Janeiro, there was stability.

The comparison with September 2004 points to recovery of the purchasing power of workers in the metropolitan areas of Recife (9.2%), Salvador (7.9%), Belo Horizonte (0.6%), Rio de Janeiro (1.7%) and São Paulo (1.1%). In Porto Alegre, there was stability.

 

Income by Categories of Employment (monthly comparison )

In the six areas surveyed, there was decrease of 1.4% in the income of workers with a formal contract in the private sector, from R$992.29 to R$878.80, in September. Only the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte (-1.2%) and São Paulo (-3.1%) had losses in this category; the remaining ones were in recovery: Recife (0.7%), Salvador (4.9%), Rio de Janeiro (0.8%) and Porto Alegre (1.7%).

There was also decrease of 4.7% in the income of workers without a formal contract in the private sector, whose average figure changed from R$644.56 in August to R$614.10 in September. Only in the metropolitan area of Salvador was registered increase in the income of this category (1.6%). In the remaining areas, there were losses: Recife (-2.3%), Belo Horizonte (-10.3%), Rio de Janeiro (-3.1%), São Paulo (-4.6%) and Porto Alegre (-5.0%).

Recovery (3.5%) of the income of own-account workers was registered (from R$773.40 to R$800.10) between August and September. There was increase in all the areas Recife (9.6%), Salvador (5.2%), Belo Horizonte (2.8%),Rio de Janeiro (4.1%), São Paulo (1.7%) and Porto Alegre (3.5%).

 

Income by Categories of Employment (annual comparison)

There was stability in the income of workers with a formal contract in the six areas surveyed. There was decrease in the income of workers in São Paulo and in Porto Alegre (-1.6% and 0.6%, respectively), whereas in Recife (4.0%), Salvador (4.6%), Belo Horizonte (2.1%) and Rio de Janeiro (2.2%) there was increase.

There was recovery (1.3%) regarding workers without a formal contract, with the average income changing from R$606.16 in September 2004 to R$ 614.10 in the same month in 2005. There was decrease in the income of workers in the metropolitan areas of Recife (-8.7%), Belo Horizonte (-2.3%) and Porto Alegre (-0.6%). On the other hand, in the areas of Salvador (5.1%), Rio de Janeiro (1.7%) and São Paulo (2.7%) there was increase.

There was recovery (6.7%) for own-account workers, whose average income changed from R$749.66 to R$800.10. There was increase in al the areas: Recife (12.4%), Salvador (12.9%), Belo Horizonte (9.1%), Rio de Janeiro (5.5%), São Paulo (5.0%) and Porto Alegre (5.5%).

The chart below shows the changes of real average income usually earned by the employed population, by groups of activity.

 

In comparison with August 2005, there was stability of the real average income usually earned by workers of the group of activity services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation. Increase in the average income usually earned in the following groups was observed: Trade, repair of automotive vehicles, personal and domestic objects and retail fuel trade (2.0%) ; education, health, social services, public administration and defense and social security (0.6%); domestic services (1.9%) and other services (lodging, transportation, urban sanitation and personal services) (1.3%). There was decrease of the real average income of mining and quarrying, manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water (-2.7%) and construction (-2.5%).

 

In comparison with September 2004, there was increase in the real average income of workers of the following groups of activity: mining and quarrying and manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water (1.8%); trade, repair of automotive vehicles and other services (lodging, transportation, urban sanitation and personal services) (5.0%). There was decrease of the average income of workers of construction (-2.0%); services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation (-0.5%) and education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security (1.0%)

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[1] Activity rate – proportion of economically active persons in relation to the working age population.

[2] Level of employment - proportion of employed persons in relation to working age population

[3] Persons who were not working, were available to work and had sought work within thirty days before the survey.

[4] Excluding private household workers, military, public and statutory servants and other employees of the public sector.

[5] Excluding private household workers, military, public and statutory servants and other employees of the public sector.

[6] Overall income usually earned.