The December rate was the lowest one in all the IBGE’s Monthly Employment Series, which started in March 2002. It fell by 0.8 percentage points in relation to November 2007 (8.2%) and 1.0 percentage points in relation to December 2006 (8.4%). The employed population (21.4 million persons) did not change significantly in relation to November 2007 (-0.3%), but increased 3.0% in comparison with the figure in December 2006. The unemployment population was reduced in terms of both the monthly and the annual comparisons (-9.5%). The number of workers with a formal contract in the private sector remained stable in relation to November 2007 and increased 7.0% in comparison with December 2006. In the monthly comparison, groups of activity faced significant changes: mining and quarrying industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water (-2.7%), and trade, repair of automotive vehicles and personal and domestic objects and retail trade of fuels (2.7%). In comparison with December 2006, there were increases in three groups: trade, repair of automotive vehicles and personal and domestic objects and retail trade of fuels (4.4%), Education, health, social services, public administration and retail trade of fuels (4.7%)  and Other services (5.4%).   

 

In December, the average real income of employed persons (R$1,163.90) also increased in the monthly (0.9%) and annual comparisons (2.3%). The average real household income per capita (R$ 741.27) was stable in the month and increased 3.7% in the year. The volume of average real income usually earned (R$ 25 billion) increased 0.7% in the month and 5.0% in the year.

In December 2007, the estimated unemployment for the group of six areas covered by the survey was 7.4%, and it decreased by 0.8 in comparison with November and by 1.0% in relation to December 2006. This indicator reached the highest figure in time series of the survey, which started in March 2002.

By area, in the monthly comparison, there were decreases in Salvador (1.4%), Belo Horizonte (0.9%), São Paulo (0.8%) and Porto Alegre (0.8%).

 

In the six metropolitan areas, the group of unemployed persons¹ fell by 10.9% in relation to November 2007 and by 9.5% in relation to December 2006. By area, in comparison with figures in November, this result decreased in Salvador (-12.3%), Belo Horizonte (-14.5%), São Paulo (-11.1%) and Porto Alegre (-13.8%) and was stable in the other metropolitan areas. In the annual comparison, there were decreases in Belo Horizonte (-19.4%) and Porto Alegre (-17.1%) and stability in the other metropolitan areas.

 

NON-ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE PERSONS (PNEA)²

 

The non-active population, which is not classified by the survey as either employed or unemployed, was estimated to be about 17.8 million persons, in the group of metropolitan areas surveyed. This number increased in both the monthly and the annual comparisons, 1.9% and 2.1%, respectively.

 

In PNEA, 63.8% were women and 36.2% were men, whereas among the economically active ones, women made up 45.4%, and men, 54, 6%.

 

The populations under 18 years of age and over 50 years of age made up 31.2% and 37.6%, respectively, of the non-economically active population (PNEA), but only 2.3% and 18.2%, respectively, of the PEA.

In the group of PNEA, 12.5% would like and were available to have a job if they could find one. However, only 5.3% had worked or looked for a job in the previous year (marginally connected to the PEA). In relation to schooling, 77.0% had not finished high school.

 

EMPLOYED POPULATION (PO)

 

The employed population (21.4 million) in the group of six metropolitan areas was stable in relation to November and increased 3.0% in relation to December 2006, that is, about 622 new jobs were created in the period.

 

By area, in relation to November, none of the metropolitan areas had significant changes. In the year, there were increases in Salvador (3.2%), Belo Horizonte (4.9%), São Paulo (3.9%) and Porto Alegre (5.0%).

 

Men made up 55.5% of the employed population, and women, 44.5%. The population aged 25-49 years of age represented 63.5% of the total number of unemployed persons. The survey also showed that the percentage of employed persons with 11 or more years of schooling in December 2007 was 55.0%.

According to PME, 49.9% of the employed population worked, in December 2007, a total of 40 to 44 hours per week about 33.1% of them worked over 45 hours per week. On average, according to data from the survey, 68.1% of the workers in the six metropolitan areas surveyed in the six metropolitan areas had had that job for at least 2 years; 11.5% from 1 year to less than 2 years; 18.9% from 1 month to 1 year, and only 1.6% had had that job for at least 1 month.    

 

 

Analysis of results in relation to the main groups of activity

 

Mining and quarrying industry, manufacturing industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water (16.9% of the employed population) There was decrease in relation to November and stability in relation to December 2006, for the group of six metropolitan areas. By area, in the monthly comparison, there was decrease (-5.1%) in São Paulo; in the annual comparison there was stability.  

 

Construction (7.1% of the employed population) In the group of six areas, there was stability in both comparative periods. By area, there was stability in the monthly and annual comparisons.

 

Trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic objects and retail trade of fuels (19.9% of the employed population) There were increases in the monthly and annual comparisons (2.7% and 4.4%, respectively). By area, there was stability in relation to November and increase of 8.2% in Belo Horizonte, in comparison with December 2006.

 

Services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation (14.4% of the employed population) There was stability in the monthly and annual comparisons. By area, in the country, there were decreases in Salvador (-8.3%) and in Rio de Janeiro (-6.8%). In the year, there was decrease in Salvador (-11.5%).

 

Education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security (15.4% of the employed population) In relation to November, there was stability, and, in relation to December 2006, there was increase of 8.6% in São Paulo.

Domestic services (7.9% of the employed population) There was stability in both periods of comparison and also in the monthly analysis.

 

Other services (Lodging and feeding, transportation, storage and communications, urban cleaning, associate, recreational, cultural and sports activities, personal services) (17.7% of the employed population) There was stability in the monthly comparison. In relation to December 2006, there was increase of 5.4%. By area, there was stability in the month and increases in Porto Alegre (13.4%) and in São Paulo (7.1%), in the year.

Analysis of the type of participation in the job market

 

Workers WITH a formal employment contract in the private sector³ (43.2% of the employed population) In relation to November, there was stability. In comparison with figures in December 2006, there was increase (7.0%). By area, in the month, there was stability. In relation to December 2006, there were increases in Recife (6.8%), Belo Horizonte (8.6%), Rio de Janeiro (5.6%), São Paulo (7.4%) and Porto Alegre (8.8%).

 

Workers WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector (13.9% of the employed population) There was stability in both comparative periods. In the analysis by area, there was stability in the monthly comparison and decrease of 13.9% in Recife, in the annual comparison.

 

Military and civil servants (7.2% of the employed population) In both periods of comparison, there was stability. By area, there was stability in the month, and increase of 13.3% in Belo Horizonte, in the year.

 

Own-account workers (19.4% of the employed population) There was stability in both comparisons and by area

 

 AVERAGE REAL INCOME⁴

In December 2007, the average real income usually earned by workers (R$ 1,163.90) increased 0.9% in relation to November and 2.3% in comparison with December 2006.

In the analysis by area, in relation to the previous month, there were increases in Salvador 91.4%) and São Paulo (2.9%); decreases in Belo Horizonte (-3.8%) and in Rio de Janeiro (-0.5%); there was stability in Recife and in Porto Alegre. In the annual comparison, there were increases in all the metropolitan areas: Recife (3.1%), Salvador (2.7%), Belo Horizonte (2.4%), Rio de Janeiro (2.5%), São Paulo (1.7%) and Porto Alegre (4.4%).

IN THE MONTH:

 

Workers with a formal contract in the private sector (R$ 1,120.30) (0.7%). There was increase in Salvador (1.0%) and in São Paulo (2.4%), decrease in Porto Alegre (1.4%) and in Rio de Janeiro (1.9%) and stability in Recife and in Belo Horizonte. 

Workers without a formal contract in the private sector (R$ 812.70) (7.8%) There were increases in Recife (27.7%), Belo Horizonte (4.5%), Rio de Janeiro (10.9%), São Paulo (6.9%) and Porto Alegre (2.9%), and decrease of 1.2% in Salvador.

 

Military and civil servants (R$ 2,063.90) (1.6%) There was increase in Recife (2.4%), São Paulo (7.3%) and Porto Alegre (2.4%), decrease in Salvador (4.5%) and Belo Horizonte (5.2%), and stability in Rio.

 

Own-account workers (R$ 968.50) (0.7%) There was increase in Recife (2.6%), Rio de Janeiro (3.3%) and São Paulo (2.1%). There was decrease in Salvador (1.4%), Belo Horizonte (8.0%) and Porto Alegre (4.2%).

 

IN THE YEAR:

 

Workers with a formal contract in the private sector (R$1,120.30) There was increase in Belo Horizonte (2.1%), Rio de Janeiro (3.7%), São Paulo (0.9%) and Porto Alegre (2.8%), decrease in Recife (-2.7%), and stability in Salvador.

 

Workers without a formal contract  in the private sector (R$ 812.70) (12.1%) There was increase in Recife (36.2%), Belo Horizonte (6.7%), Rio de Janeiro (13.5%), São Paulo (14.4%) and Porto Alegre (3.3%)  and decrease in Salvador (-11.2%).

Military and civil servants (R$ 2,063.90) (6.3%) There was increase in the six metropolitan areas: Recife (2.8%), Salvador (10.3%), Belo Horizonte (2.4%), Rio de Janeiro (12.3%), São Paulo (0.4%) and Porto Alegre (13.1%).

Own-account workers (R$ 968.50) (0.5%) There was increase in Recife (0.9%), Rio de Janeiro (2.1%) and São Paulo (1.7%). There was decrease in Belo Horizonte (-1.3%) and Porto Alegre (-9.8%).

 

Average income of workers by group of activity

 

In relation to November 2007:

 

increases mining and quarrying industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water (3.1%), construction (4.9%); services rendered to enterprises, real estate activities and financial mediation (1.8%); education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security (0.9%) and domestic services (0.9%)

decreases: trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic objects and retail trade of fuels (-1.5%); and other services (-0.5%).

 In relation to December 2006:

increases: mining and quarrying industry and distribution of electricity, gas and water and construction (5.4%), construction (12.6%); education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security (4.3%); domestic services (5.9%) and other services (2.3%).

 

decreases: trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic objects and retail trade of fuels (-0.7%); and services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation (-4.2%).

 

Average real household income per capita⁵  

In December 2007, the average real household income per capita  (R$ 741.27) remained stable in relation to November and increased (3.7%) in the year.

By area, in relation to November, there was increase in São Paulo (2.6%), decrease in Salvador (3.5%), Belo Horizonte (5.4%), Rio de Janeiro (0.8%) and Porto Alegre (1.8%), whereas in Recife, the result remained stable. In the year, there were increases in all the metropolitan areas: Recife (0.4%), Salvador (4.1%), Belo Horizonte (4.9%), Rio de Janeiro (4.1%), São Paulo (2.9%) and Porto Alegre (8.7%).

Volume of Real Effective Income of the Employed Population⁶

 

In November 2007, the volume of real effective income of the employed population in the group of six metropolitan areas (R$ 26.4 billion, based on the Monthly Employment Survey of December 2007), increased in relation to the previous October (7.7%) and 4.2% in relation to November 2006.

 

In comparison with last October, there was recovery in all the metropolitan areas: Recife (5.9%), Salvador (6.1%), Belo Horizonte (1.9%), Rio de Janeiro (2.2%), São Paulo (12.8%) and Porto Alegre (5.0%). In relation to November 2006, there was also recovery of income in all the metropolitan areas: Recife (4.2%), Salvador (0.6%), Belo Horizonte (11.8%), Rio de Janeiro (1.6%), São Paulo (3.3%) and Porto Alegre (11.2%).

 

______________________________________________________________

 

¹Persons who were not working, were available to work in the week of reference and took action in order to find a job in the period of thirty days preceding the survey

²Persons aged 10 years or over who were not employed and were not looking for a job 

³Except domestic workers, military and civil servants and others

 

⁴Income usually earned 

 

⁵Division of the monthly monthly household income by the number of dwellers of the housing unit, except those who receive pension benefits, who are domestic workers or relative of domestic workers

 

⁶Sum of the income received from all activities performed in the month of reference of the survey (month before the month of release)