Between 2004 and 2005, according to the new series of IBGE’s Monthly Employment Survey, the employed population of the main metropolitan areas in the country increased, on average, by 3.0%. In the same period, the number of workers with a formal contract increased by 5.6% (annual average). Between 2003 and 2005, there was reduction of the participation of youngsters in the job market, and increase of the participation of the workers 50 years old or over from 16.8% to 18% of the employed population (annual average). The workers with 11 or more years of schooling, who accounted for 46.79% of the employed population in 2003, increased their participation to 50.3% in 2005. These are some of the data contained in the study on the three years of the new PME series.

The Monthly Employment Survey showed that, in 2005, the employed population (PO) grew, on average, by 3.0% considering the group of six metropolitan areas investigated (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre).

In 2005, the number of unemployed persons in these six areas remained at a level considerably below that observed in 2003 and in 2004, and maintained the downward trend, reaching 1.8 million in December 2005. It was the first time, since the beginning of the survey, that the unemployed population was below the figure of 2 million people.

In almost all the metropolitan areas investigated, most of the increase of the employed population came from employment with a formal contract: between 2004 and 2005, there was average increase of 5.6% of persons with a formal contract in the private sector.

Between 2004 and 2005 the participation of youngsters – between 10 and 24 years of age – in the employed population decreased. The opposite happened to employed persons aged 50 years or over in the six metropolitan areas surveyed and, in the first semester of 2005, the figure even surpassed the average monthly number of employed persons between 10 and 24 years of age.

Workers with a higher level of education (11 or more years of schooling) accounted for 50.3% of the employed population (annual average) of 2005. This was the only schooling segment which, in the last two years, has had increased participation in the employed population.

In 2004 and 2005, there were two groups which grew above the average increase of the employed population, with expansion in participation: Financial mediation and real estate activities, rents and services rendered to enterprises and Domestic services.

The participation of unemployed persons between 18 and 24 years of age increased, as well as the participation of women and of persons with 11 or more years of schooling.

In December 2005, the estimated unemployment rate was 8.3%, the lowest since March 2002. The annual average of this estimate in 2005 (9.8%) was also below the 2003 and 2004 figures.

In December 2005 the estimated income was R$ 995.40. In the comparison of figures for annual average incomes of the last three years, there was real recovery in 2005 compared to 2003 and to 2004. 

The complete version of the study based on the information collected in the new Monthly Employment Survey of IBGE is on top of the page and it can be accessed by the link Three-Year Retrospective Study of New PME.