In February, a month characterized by increase of unemployment due to the reduction of temporary jobs offers in contrast with a great number of persons searching for a position, the unemployment rate increased by 10.1%. in the group of six areas surveyed by IBGE’s Monthly Employment Survey. The February rate was 0.9 percentage points above the January figure (9.2%), but, even so, it is the lowest rate estimated for February since the beginning of this survey series, in March 2002. In comparison with February 2005 (10.6%), for example, the rate fell by 0.5 percentage points. The number of persons with a formal contact remained constant in relation to January. However, in one year, about 398 thousand jobs with formal contracts were created, that is, there was an increase of 5.1% in relation to February 2005. The number of workers without a formal contract fell by 3.4%, considering the monthly comparison. The estimated average real income was R$ 999.80, representing an increase of 1.1% in the monthly comparison. In comparison with February 2005, the recovery of the purchasing power of workers was 2.5%.

The graph above shows the progression of the Average Unemployment Rate from 2003 to 2006, in the six metropolitan areas surveyed

In February 2006, in comparison with January 2006, decrease of the unemployment rate was observed only in Salvador (from 14.9% to 13.6%). There was increase in Belo Horizonte (from 8.1% to 9.1%), in Rio de Janeiro (from 6.9% to 7.9%) and in São Paulo (from 9.2% to 10.5%). In Recife and in Porto Alegre there was stability. In comparison with February 2005, the indicator changed in two metropolitan areas: it increased in Recife (from 13.2% to 15.9%) and decreased in Salvador (from 15.6% to 13.6%). In the remaining areas, there was stability.

The chart below shows the progression of the unemployment rate by area since January 2003

 

Month/ Year

Total

Recife

Salvador

Belo Horizonte

Rio de Janeiro

São Paulo

Porto Alegre

Jan/03

11.2

11.7

15.2

9.8

8.3

13.0

7.9

Feb/03

11.6

12.1**

15.0

10.1

8.6

13.6

8.6

Mar/03

12.1

12.7

16.2

10.3

9.1

13.9

10.0

Apr/03

12.4

14.0

16.7

10.5

9.2

14.3

9.8

May/03

12.8

15.1

17.3

11.0

9.6

14.6

10.2

Jun/03

13.0

14.9

17.9

12.1

9.8

14.5

10.2

Jul/03

12.8

14.2

17.6

11.4

9.6

14.5

9.5

Aug/03

13.0

15.0

17.6

12.1

9.5

14.9

9.8

Sep/03

12.9

15.0

17.6

10.8

9.7

14.8

10.1

Out/03

12.9

14.4

17.0

11.2

9.4

15.0

10.1

Nov/03

12.2

14.0

16.4

10.3

8.9

14.0

9.4

Dec/03

10.9

12.1

15.7

10.4

8.6

11.8

7.9

Jan/04

11.7

12.8

16.2

12.3

8.9

12.9

7.6

Feb/04

12.0

12.7

17.1

11.9

8.6

13.6

8.5

Mar/04

12.8

12.6

17.1

12.1

9.8

14.6

9.6

Apr/04

13.1

14.3

16.6

11.4

10.7

14.5

10.7

May/04

12.2

13.3

16.2

10.9

9.6

13.6

9.7

Jun/04

11.7

12.8

14.9

10.5

8.9

13.3

9.5

Jul/04

11.2

13.4

14.9

10.7

8.1

12.5

8.9

Aug/04

11.4

13.5

16.6

10.2

8.6

12.6

8.5

Sep/04

10.9

12.4

15.6

10.2

8.8

11.7

8.7

Oct/04

10.5

12.1

15.8

9.6

8.5

11.2

7.6

Nov/04

10.6

11.2

15.9

9.2

9.4

11.2

7.8

Dec/04

9.6

11.1

15.4

8.5

8.5

9.8

6.6

Jan/03

10.2

12.2

15.8

9.8

7.4

11.1

7.0

Feb/03

10.6

13.2

15.6

9.9

8.4

11.5

7.1

Mar/03

10.8

14.1

15.7

10.7

8.4

11.5

7.9

Apr/03

10.8

13.0

17.0

9.5

8.6

11.4

8.0

May/03

10.2

12.8

15.9

8.9

8.5

10.5

7.7

Jun/03

9.4

9.6*

14.7

8.5

6.9

10.5

7.1

Jul/03

9.4

12.7

15.7

8.2

7.2

9.9

7.0

Aug/03

9.4

13.4

15.5

8.3

7.4

9.4

7.6

Sep/03

9.6

15.0

15.2

8.1

7.4

9.7

8.4

Oct/03

9.6

14.3

14.9

8.5

7.9

9.6

7.5

Nov/03

9.6

14.7

15.0

8.2

7.7

9.7

7.2

Dec/03

8.3*

13.9

14.6*

7.0*

6.8*

7.8*

6.7*

Jan/06

9.2

15.3

14.9

8.1

6.9

9.2

7.7

Feb/06

10.1

**

15.9

13.6

**

9.1

**

7.9

**

10.5

**

7.5

**

 

 

* lowest rate in the series                                                  ** lowest rate in the February series

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS (PD) ^[1]

According to what is commonly expected, the number of persons looking for a job increased by 9.5% in February 2006 over January 2006 considering the group of six areas surveyed. In the annual comparison, there was stability.

 

At regional level and in comparison with January 2006, there was increase of the number of unemployed persons in the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte (13.0%), Rio de Janeiro (15.3%) and São Paulo (15.6%). The opposite happened in the metropolitan area of Salvador, since the rate decreased (-11.2%). In the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, there was stability in both comparisons. Compared to February 2005, there were changes in Recife (27.3%) and Salvador (-12.7%). In the remaining areas, there was stability.

 

Among the unemployed, 55.5% were women and 44.5% men. In relation to age groups, 7.9% of the persons were between 15 and 17 years of age, 38.4% were between 18 and 24 years of age, 46.5% between 25 and 49 years of age and 6.4% were 50 years of age or over. Still among the unemployed, 20.3% were searching for their first job and 25.4% were head of the household. In relation to the job searching period, 21.4% had been searching for a job for a period no longer than 30 days; 45.5% for a period between 31 days and 6 months; 8.3% between 7 and 11 months and 24.9% for a period of at least one year.

The graph above shows the progression, from FEBRUARY 2005 to FEBRUARY 2006 of the unemployed population, in the six metropolitan areas surveyed

EMPLOYED POPULATION

In February 2006, the number of employed persons (19.9 million) was stable in comparison with January 2006. In comparison with February 2005, there was a growing trend, leading to increase by 491 thousand persons. In the monthly comparison, all the areas had stability. In comparison with February 2005, there was increase of the number of employed persons in four of the six metropolitan areas surveyed: Salvador (3.3%), Belo Horizonte (4.7%), São Paulo (2.4%) and Porto Alegre (3.0%). It is worth mentioning that the changes observed in these areas were similar to the comparisons of January 2006 with January 2005.

Considering the level of occupation (50.6%), the results point to stability, both in the monthly comparison and in the comparison with February 2005. At regional level, in the monthly comparison, there was stability in all the areas. In relation to February last year, only the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte expanded in terms of the level of occupation (1.3 percentage points)

The survey showed that, in February 2006, men made up 56.2% of the employed population, whereas women, 43.8%. The population between 25 and 49 years of age represented 63.9% of the overall number of unemployed persons. In February 2006, the percentage of employed persons at 11 years of age or over was 51.7%.

The estimated number of employed persons working for enterprises with 11 or more persons was 57.2%. In the enterprises with 6 to 10 persons employed, this percentage was 6.4%, whereas in those employing up to five persons, it was 36.4%.

According to the Monthly Employment Survey, in February 2006, 48.1% of the population had a weekly number of 40 to 44 working hours, and about 34.5% had over 45 working hours. On average, according to data in the survey, 67.9% of the workers in the six areas surveyed had had that job for at least 2 years; 12.2% between 1 year and less than 2 years; 18.1% between 1 month and 1 year, and only 1.7% had had that same job for less than 1 month.

 

The graph below shows the progression of the employed population in the six metropolitan areas surveyed , from FEBRUARY 2005 to FEBRUARY 2006

 

Results for occupation in relation to the main groups of activity:

 

Mining and quarrying industry, manufacturing industry, electricity, gas and water, 17.5% of the employed population. For the six areas, in both comparisons, the number of employed persons in this group presented stability. At regional level, considering the monthly comparison, there were changes only in the metropolitan area of Salvador (17.9%).

Construction, 7.2% of the employed population. In the group of six areas, in both comparisons, the number of employed persons in this segment was stable. At regional level, in the monthly comparison, there were not significant changes in any of the areas surveyed. In comparison with the same month in the previous year, there was change only in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte (15.1%), a trend which has been present for almost one year.

Trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic objects and retail fuel trade

, 19.6% of the employed population. The number of employed persons in this group remained stable both in relation to January 2006 and to February 2005. At regional level, there was stability in all areas, in both comparisons.

 

Services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation, 14.3% of the employed population. The number of employed persons in this group of activity remained stable in relation to January 2006 and changed by 5.2% over February 2005. None of the areas surveyed presented change in this group in comparison with last January. In comparison with February 2005, there was change only in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro (8.3%).

 

Domestic services, 8.2% of the employed population. The number of employed persons in this group of activity remained stable in terms of the monthly comparison. There was increase of 5.3% over February 2005. In the analysis by area, in comparison with January 2006, there was stability in all the metropolitan areas surveyed. In relation to February 2005, changes were observed only in the metropolitan area of São Paulo (14.2%).

Other services (lodging, transportation, urban sanitation and personal services), 16.9% of the employed population. The number of employed persons in this group of activity did not change in terms of the monthly comparison. In relation to February 2005, there was also stability. At regional level, in the monthly comparison, there was stability in all the areas covered by the survey. In the annual comparison, there was decrease in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro (-6.7%) and increase in Belo Horizonte (9.6%) and Porto Alegre (10.6%) In the remaining areas, there was stability.

Distribution of the Employed Population, by metropolitan area, by group of activity

Analysis of the occupation by type of participation in the job market

 

Employees WITH a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers, military, civil servants and others) 41,4% of the employed population. In relation to January 2006, the number of workers in this category was stable. Over February 2005, there was change of 5.1%, that is, increase of about 398 thousand persons working with a formal contract. In the analysis by area, in terms of the monthly comparison, there was change only in the metropolitan area of Recife (4.7%). In comparison with February 2005, there were changes in Belo Horizonte (10.8%), Rio de Janeiro (7.5%) and Porto Alegre (6.7%).

 

Employees WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers, military, civil servants and others), 14.8% of the employed population. This estimate fell in comparison with January (-3.4%) and was constant in the current comparison. In the analysis by area, there was only change in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro (-7.6%). In the annual comparison, there was stability in all the areas surveyed.

 

Own-account workers

, 19.1% of the employed population. There was stability of the number of workers in this category considering the monthly and the annual comparisons. At regional level, there was stability in both comparisons.

Distribution of the employed population, by position in the occupation

AVERAGE REAL INCOME

The survey estimated, for the group of six areas, the average real income usually earned by workers as R$ 999.80.00, which means an increase of 1.1% in relation to January 2006. In comparison with February 2005, there was also recovery (2.5%).

In the analysis by area, in relation to January, there was fall in the following areas: Recife (-2.0%), Salvador (-1.9%) and Rio de Janeiro (-2.4%). On the other hand, in Belo Horizonte (2.1%), São Paulo (3.3%) and Porto Alegre (1.2%), there was recovery of the purchasing power of workers.

In the analysis by area, in the annual comparison, the purchasing power increased in almost all the metropolitan areas: Recife (0.9%), Salvador (6.9%), Belo Horizonte (1.8%), Rio de Janeiro (1.2%) and São Paulo (3.9%). In the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, there was fall (-1.0%).

 

Income of categories according to type of participation in the MONTHLY comparison, for the six areas:

 

Employees with a formal contract in the private sector. Hike of 1.4% was observed; the estimated average income was R$992.10. There was fall in metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte (-1.0%) and Rio de Janeiro 9-2.3%) concerning this estimate. In Recife (0.7%) and Porto Alegre (0.9%), there was recovery of the income of this category.

Employees without a formal contract in the private sector. The average income, estimated to be R$666.10, fell in February 2006 compared to the figure of January (R$682.42), a change of –2.4%. In the metropolitan areas of Salvador (3.7%), Belo Horizonte (1.0%) and Porto Alegre ( 1.3%0, there was increase of the income of this category. In the areas of Recife (-3.8%), Rio de Janeiro (-11.3%) and São Paulo (0.6%), there was loss.

Own-account workers. The change was 0.5%, with the average income increasing from R$ 798.95 to R$ 803.10. The income of this category increased in the metropolitan areas of Recife (5.7%), Belo Horizonte (4.2%), São Paulo (0.6%) and Porto Alegre (1.2%). It decreased in Salvador (-2.8%) and Rio de Janeiro (-1.3%).

Income of categories according to type of participation in the ANNUAL comparison, for the six areas: 

Employees with a formal contract in the private sector. The estimated income was R$992.20; there was stability in relation to February 2005. Income increased in Recife (2.2%), Salvador (8.7%) and Rio de Janeiro (3.3%). The workers in the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte (-2.5%) and Porto Alegre (-0.9%) also faced reduction of the income. In the metropolitan area of São Paulo, there was stability.

Employees without a formal contract in the private sector. Income recovered 3.5%, changing from R$643.74 to R$ 666.10. In the metropolitan areas of Recife (2.6%), Salvador (1.3%), Belo Horizonte (3.8%), São Paulo (7.5%) and Porto Alegre (5.2%), there was recovery. In the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, there was loss (-4.1%).

Own-account workers

. Income recovered 5.2%, changing from R$ 763.20 to R$803.10. There was recovery in the six metropolitan areas investigated: Recife (1.7%), Salvador (13.6%), Belo Horizonte (1.9%), Rio de Janeiro (2.8%), São Paulo (7.7%) and Porto Alegre (2.3%).

The graph below shows the progress, from FEBRUARY 2005 and FEBRUARY 2006, of the real average income of the employed population in the six areas surveyed

In the analysis of the average income of workers by group of activity, in the comparison with January 2006, were observed:

 

 

• stability

 

of the real average income of workers by group of activity of services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation

 

 

• increase

of the real average income of workers in the following groups of activity: construction (0.0%); trade, repair of automotive vehicles and personal and domestic objects and retail trade of fuels (7.3%); education, public administration, defense and social security (0.4%) and other services (1.6%).

 

 

 

• fall

 

of the average real income usually earned in the following groups: mining and quarrying industry, manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water (-2.7%) and domestic services (-1.3%).

 

In the comparison with February 2006, were observed:

 

 

• increase

of the average real income of workers in the groups of activity: mining and quarrying industry, manufacturing industry, and distribution of electricity, gas and water (3.1%); trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic objects and retail fuel trade (6.0%); services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation (2.7%); education, health, social services and public administration, defense and social security (0.6%) and domestic services (4.9%).

 

 

 

• decrease

of the real average income of workers in the following groups: construction (-3.7%) and other services (0.5 %)

 

 

NON-ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION (PNEA)

In February 2006, in the six metropolitan areas surveyed, the non-active population, not classified in the survey as employed or unemployed, was estimated to be 17.2 million persons. This indicator was constant in relation to January 2006. In comparison with February 2005, increase of 2.0% was observed, that is, more 341 thousand persons. In PNEA, 63.9% were women and 36.1%, men; among the economically active, women made up 45.0% and men, 55%. The population younger than 18 years of age and 50 years of age or over made up 31.6% and 36.8%, respectively. In the PNEA, 15.3% would like to and were available to work, if possible. In terms of years of schooling, 78.4% had not finished high school.

______________________________________

[1] These people were thus classified for not being working, being available to work in the week of reference and having taken action in order to find a job in the thirty days preceding their participation in the survey.