Unemployment rate increased in comparison to December (7.4%) and was below the figure in January 2007 (9.3%). The employed population (21.3 million) has not undergone statistically significant changes in comparison with figures in December 2007 (it fell by 0.6%) and increased 3.6% compared to January last year. Since December, the unemployed population (1,842 million) has increased by 7.5% and, for the first time in the month of January, was below 2 million. In comparison with January last year, there was decrease by 12.1%. The real average income usually earned by employed persons (R$ 1.172.50) has not changed in the monthly comparison, but increased (3.4%) in relation to January 2007. The real average household income per capita (R$ 743.76) fell by 0.5% in the month, and increased 3.5% in the year. The volume of real average income usually earned by employed persons (R$ 25 billion) fell by 0.9% in the month and increased by 5.7% in the year.

UNEMPLOYMENT

In January 2008, the estimated unemployment rate for the group of six areas covered by the Monthly Employment Survey was 8.0%. It increased by 0.6 percentage points in relation to December and fell by 1.3 percentage point in relation to January 2007.  

By area, in the monthly comparison, there were increases in the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte, 1.2 percentage points and Porto Alegre, 0.9 percentage points. In relation to January 2007, the decrease occurred in the metropolitan areas of Recife, 1.5 percentage points; Salvador, 2.2 percentage points; Belo Horizonte, 1.7 percentage points; São Paulo, 1.5 percentage points and Porto Alegre, 1.9 percentage points.

In comparison with December, the number of unemployed persons (1.842 million) increased by 7.5% in the six metropolitan areas surveyed. In relation to January 2007, there was decrease of 12.1%.

At regional level, in relation to last December, there were increases in the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte (20.1%) and Porto Alegre (16.6%). In the annual comparison, decreases occurred in Recife (13.6%), Salvador (15.4%, Belo Horizonte (18.0%), São Paulo (12.8%) and Porto Alegre (20.%).

Among the unemployed, 57.7% were women. In relation to the age group, 8.5% were aged up to 17 years old; 37.3%, between 18 and 24 years old; 47.9%, between 25 and 49 years old; and 6.3%, 50 years old or over.

A total of 21.5% of the unemployed persons were searching for their first job, and 25.1% were head of the household. In terms of the job searching period, 26.4% had been looking for a job for no more than 30 days; 43.9%, for a period between 31 days to 6 months; 7.8% for a period between 7 days and 11 months; and 21.9%, for a period of at least 1 year.

In January 2006, 48.5% of the unemployed had finished at least high school; in January 2007, this group made up 51.4%, and, in the last survey, 53.9%.

EMPLOYED PERSONS (PO)

The number of employed persons (21.3 million) in the group of six metropolitan areas, in January 2008, did not face statistically significant changes in comparison with the previous month (it was reduced by 120 thousand persons, that is, 0.6%). In relation to January 2007, employment increased by 3.6%, with over 743 thousand positions.

By area, in relation to December 2007, none of the metropolitan areas had significant changes. In the year, there were increases in Salvador (3.2%), Belo Horizonte (4.6%), Rio de Janeiro 91.9%), São Paulo (4.2%) and Porto Alegre (6.8%).

Men made up, in January 2008, 5.6% of the employed population, whereas women, 44.4%. The population aged 25 – 49 years of age made up 63.9% of the total number of employed persons. The percentage of employed persons in January 2008 with 11 or more years of schooling was 55.5%.

According to IBGE’s Monthly Employment Survey, 50.7% of the employed population worked, in January, an average of 40 - 44 hours, and about 32.0%, worked over 45 hours per week. On average, according to survey data, 68.5% of workers in the six metropolitan areas had been in the same job for at least 2 years; 11.4% from 1 year and less than 2 years; 18.5% from 1 month to 1 year, and only 1.6% had been in that job for less than 1 month.

AVERAGE REAL INCOME¹

The real income usually earned received by workers in the group of six metropolitan areas (R$1,172.50) remained stable in relation to December, and increased by 3.4% in relation to January 2007.

AVERAGE REAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME PER CAPITA

In January 2008, for the group of six areas, the average real household income per capita (R$ 743.76) decreased by 0.5% in comparison with the previous month and decreased by 3.5% in relation to January 2007.

In the analysis by area, in relation to December, there was increase only in Porto Alegre (1.1%); decreases in Recife (2.4%), Belo Horizonte (0.6%), Rio de Janeiro (0.5%) and stability in Salvador and São Paulo. In comparison with January 2007, there were increases in Salvador (6.5%), Belo Horizonte (4.4%), Rio de Janeiro (3.1%), São Paulo (5.5%) and Porto Alegre (10.9%). Recife had falling rates (3.6%).

VOLUME OF REAL EFFECTIVE INCOME OF THE EMPLOYED POPULATION²

The estimated volume of Real Effective Income of the Employed Population in the six metropolitan areas surveyed was R$ 31.5 billion, according to the Monthly Employment Survey of January 2008 (month of reference: December 2007.) There was increase in relation to the previous November (17.8%) and also in relation to December 2006 (9.6%).

In comparison with the previous November, there was recovery in all the metropolitan areas: Recife (30.8%), Salvador (27.9%), Belo Horizonte (24.5%), Rio de Janeiro (16.7%), São Paulo (15.9%) and Porto Alegre (17.2%). The same occurred in relation to December 2006: Recife (2.4%), Salvador (23.8%), Belo Horizonte (15.5%), Rio de Janeiro (2.2%), São Paulo (12.3%) and Porto Alegre (15.9%).

NON-ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION (PNEA)³

In January, the non-active population, not classified as either employed or unemployed, was estimated as 17.9 million persons in the group of six metropolitan areas surveyed. There was stability in the monthly comparison and increase in the annual comparison (2.2%).

By area, in relation to the previous month, this group did not have significant changes in any of the metropolitan areas. In the annual comparison, Recife (5.9%), Salvador (7.7%) and Rio de Janeiro (2.4%) had positive change; in the other ones, there was stability.

In PNEA, 63.9% were women and 36.1% were men, whereas among the economically active persons, women made up 45.5% and men, 54.5%.

The population under 18 years of age and the population aged 50 years of over made up, respectively, 31.0% and 38.0% of the non-economically active population. However, they represented only 2.3% and 18.1% of the PEA, respectively.

In PNEA, 13.2% intended to and would be available to work if they found a job. Nevertheless, only 5.5% had worked or looked for a job in the previous year (marginally connected to PEA). In terms of schooling, 76.5% had not finished high school.

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¹ Average income usually earned  

² Sum of the income earned from all activities in the survey’s month of reference  (month before the month of release)

³ Persons aged 10 years of age or over who were not employed and who were not looking for a job