In August, the estimated  unemployment rate in the group of six metropolitan areas (Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre) surveyed by IBGE’s Monthly Employment Survey (PME) was 10.6%, a stable figure in comparison with July (10.7%). In relation to August last year, when the rate was 9.4%, there was increase (1.2 percentage points). The number of unemployed persons¹ (2.4 million) remained stable in terms of the monthly comparison, but in relation to August 2005, there was expansion of 17.2%. This figure represents, approximately, more 355 thousand persons searching for a job. The average income of the employed population (R$ 1.036,20) increased by 0.7% in August, after fall of 0.7% in July. In comparison with August 2005, the income of the employed population increased by 3.5%.

 

PME showed that, in comparison with the same month last year, there was 2.2% increase of the number of persons at active age, pointing to a total of 39.7 million persons in the group of six metropolitan areas, in August. The survey showed increase of the activity rate (57.6%) in the annual comparison (1.1 percentage points).

 

In terms of the employed population (20.5 million), the survey pointed to increase in the monthly comparison (1.1%), that is, to a total of more 226 thousand employed persons in one month. In relation to August last year, the level of occupation increased by 2.8%.

Employment with a formal contract in the private sector, in relation to August 2005, increased by 5.9%. There are approximately more 472 thousand employed persons in the job market. Considering the group of six areas, in the monthly comparison, the activity other services increased by 2.5%. In the annual comparison, the highlights were the performance of the groups trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic objects and retail trade of fuels and domestic services and other services, of which the number of employed persons increased by 4.2%.

 

By area, in comparison with July, there was stability in all the areas surveyed. In comparison with August 2005, two metropolitan areas faced change in this indicator: Recife (from 13.4% to 14.9%) and São Paulo (from 9.4% to 11.6%). In the remaining areas, there was stability.

Active-Age population (PIA)

 

In August, the estimated number of persons at active age (persons 10 years of age or over) was 3,7 million, considering the group of six metropolitan areas. This estimate increased in relation to July. In comparison with August 2005, the increase was 2.2%, that is, more 849 thousand persons at active age.

 

In the analysis by sex, it was observed that, in August 2006, women accounted for the majority of the population at active age (53.4%), whereas men, for 46.6%. The distribution of the population at active age by age groups was: 9.7% from 10 to 14 years of age; 5.8% from 15 to 17 years of age; 14.8% from 18 to 24 years of age; 44.4% from 25 to 40 years of age and 23.5% of persons 50 years old or over. The group of youths between 16 and 24 years of age, made up, in August 2006, 18.7% of the PIA.

 

Economically-Active Population (PEA)

 

In August 2006, the number of persons in the job market in the group of six areas  was estimated to be 22.9 million, a figure which shows increase in relation to July (1.0%). In comparison with August 2005, there was also increase (4.2%), that is, of 913 thousand persons.

 

By area, in comparison with July, there was stability of the number of economically-active persons in all the metropolitan areas surveyed. In comparison with August 2005, there were changes in the figures of the following metropolitan areas: Recife (2.9%), Belo Horizonte (8.9%) ,Rio de Janeiro (3.2%), São Paulo (4.6%) and Porto Alegre (3.3%). Salvador did not have changes. Still in August 2006, it was observed that men continued to account for most of the economically active population (54.5%).

 

Stability was observed in the activity rate (57.6%) (proportion of economically-active persons in relation to the number of persons 10 years of age or over) in comparison with figures of July 2006 (57.2%). In comparison with August 2005 (56.5%), there was increase (1.1 percentage points).

 

By area, in relation to the previous month, the activity rate was stable in all the areas. In the annual comparison, there were changes in the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte (from 56.5% to 59.5%) and of Rio de Janeiro (from 53.9% to 54.9%). There were no changes in the other areas.

 

Employed Population (PO)

 

In relation to July, the number of employed persons increased by 1.1%, which represents 20.5 million in August 2006. In comparison with the same month in the previous year, the employed population also increased by 2.8%.

 

By area, in relation to July 2006, there was significant change of the employed population only in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro (1.6%). In the annual comparison, the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte (8.4%), Rio de Janeiro (2.4%), São Paulo (2.2%) and Porto Alegre (2.5%) had change in the number of employed persons. Considering the level of occupation² (51.5%) ,there was increase over July in the group of six areas (0.4 percentage points) and in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro (0.7 percentage points). In the current  comparison, there was change in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte (3.1 percentage points).

 

The survey showed that, in August, men accounted for 55.7% of the employed population, whereas women, for 44.3%. The population between 25 and 49 years of age made up 63.2% of the total number of employed persons. The survey also showed that the percentage of employed persons with 11 or more years of schooling in August 2006 was 51.7%.

 

Analysis of results in relation to the main groups of activity

 

 

·      Mining and quarrying industry, manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water, 17.3% of the employed population. The number of persons employed in this group of activity remained stable in relation to July 2006 as well as in relation to August 2005.

 

·     Construction, 7.0% of the employed population. In the group of six metropolitan areas, in both comparisons, the number of employed persons in this group was stable.

 

·    Trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic objects and retail trade of fuels, 19.6% of the employed population. The number of persons in this group of activity remained stable in relation to July 2006 and had positive change in relation to July 2005 (4.2%).

 

·      Services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation, 14.1% of the employed population. The number of employed persons in this group of activity remained stable in both the annual and the monthly comparisons.

 

·      Education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security, 15.8% of the employed population. In the group of six areas, in both comparisons, the number of employed persons in this group was stable.

 

·     Domestic services, 8.4% of the employed population. The number of employed persons in this group of activity in the total of the six metropolitan areas remained stable in both comparisons.

 

·    Other services (lodging, transportation, public sanitation and personal services), 17.1%of the employed population. The number of persons in this group of activity had positive change in comparison with July (2.5%) and in relation with August 2005 (4.2%).

 

Analysis of the classes of workers in the job market

 

·       Workers WITH a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers, military and civil servants and others), 41.2% of the employed population. In relation to July 2006, the number of worker in this category was stable. In comparison with August last year, there was positive change of 5.9% ,that is, increase of approximately 472 thousand persons working with a formal contract.

 

·      Workers WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers, military and civil servants and others), 14.9% of the employed population. The number of workers in this category was stable in terms of both comparisons.

 

·       Own-account workers, 18.8% of the emplpyed population. There was stability of the number of workers

 

AVERAGE REAL INCOME

 

In August, the average real income usually earned by workers in the six metropolitan areas was estimated to be R$1,036,20, with increase of 0.7% in relation to last July. In comparison with August 2005, there was recovery (3.5%).

 

In relation to July, there was recovery in all the metropolitan areas: Recife (0.4%), Salvador (1.8%), Belo Horizonte (0.5%), Rio de Janeiro (0.9%), São Paulo (0.4%) and Porto Alegre (1.1%). In the annual comparison, there was increase in all the six areas: Recife (2.6%), Salvador (4.0%), Belo Horizonte (5.7%), Rio de Janeiro (3.3%), São Paulo (3.8%) and Porto Alegre (3.7%).

 

Income of classes of workers in the MONTHLY comparison

 

·            In terms of the income of workers with a formal contract in the private sector, there was stability of the average income, which was estimated to be R$ 1,047,70. In the metropolitan areas of Recife (3.1%), Salvador 91.1%0, Belo Horizonte (0.4%) and Porto Alegre (2.2%) there was recovery of the income of this category. In the metropolitan areas of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, there was stability.

 

·            In terms of the income of workers without a formal contract in the private sector, there was positive change in the average income, estimated to be R$ 697,20 in August 2006, versus R$ 681,48 in July 2006 (change of 2.3%). In the metropolitan areas of Salvador (4.2%), Belo Horizonte (5.1%), Rio de Janeiro (6.5%) and São Paulo (1.6%) there was gain in this estimate. Decrease was observed only in Recife (-8.6%). The rate of Porto Alegre remained stable.

 

·            In terms of the income of own-account workers, there was negative change of 1.2%, with change of the average income from R$ 801,16 to R$ 791,70. The metropolitan areas of Recife (-7.2%), Salvador (-1.5%), Belo Horizonte (-3.1%), Rio de Janeiro (-2.3%) and Porto Alegre (-2.7%) faced decline. On the other hand, there was gain in the income of this category in the metropolitan area of São Paulo (04.%).

 

 

Income of classes of workers in the ANNUAL comparison

 

·    The income of workers with a formal contract in the private sector, estimated to be R$1,047,70 had recovery of 2.8% in relation to August 2005. The workers in the metropolitan areas of Salvador (3.6%), Belo Horizonte (0.5%), Rio de Janeiro (5.4%), São Paulo (3.2%) and Porto Alegre (3.5%) had gain in the income. In Recife (-0.4%), there was decline.

 

·    The income of workers without a formal contract in the private sector, had recovery of 5.3%, having changed from R$ 661.92 to R$ 697.20%. The workers of the metropolitan areas of Salvador (13.3%), Belo Horizonte (4.8%), Rio de Janeiro (1.6%) and São Paulo (10.1%) had recovery of income. In Recife and Porto Alegre there was fall (2.6% and 4.4%, respectively).

 

·    The income of own-account workers remained stable. There was decrease in the metropolitan areas  of Recife (6.6%), Salvador (6.3%), Belo Horizonte (1.1%) and São Paulo (2.1%). There was recovery of income in Rio de Janeiro (1.9%) and Porto Alegre (8.6%).

 

 

Analysis of the average income of workers by group of activity

 

The main changes observed in comparison with July 200 were:

 

·    increase of the average real income of workers in the following groups of activity: mining and quarrying industry, manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity ,gas and water (0.7%); trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic object and retail trade of fuels and domestic services (4.0%); services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and mediation (1.5%); and education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security (0.7%).

 

·    decrease the income of construction workers (-3.8%) and in other services (-0.9%).

 

·    stability of the average income usually earned by domestic workers

 

 

In  comparison with August 2005, the main changes observed were:

                 

      ·      increase of the average real income of workers in the following  groups: mining and quarrying industry, manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water (3.6%); trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic object and retail trade of fuels and domestic services (3.7%); services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and mediation (3.3%); and education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security (4.6%).

 

      ·       decrease of the average real icome of construction workers (-1.5%)

 

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¹  These persons were classified as unemployed because they were not working, were available to work in the week of reference, and had taken some action in order to find a job in the thirty days preceding the week in which they participated in the survey.

² Proportion of emplpyed persons in relation to the active age population.