The rate decreased compared to March 2007 (10.1%) and remained constant compared to February (8.7%), once this 0.1 percent change is not statistically significant. The employed population also remained practically stable (-0.6% or 122 thousand persons) in relation to the figure in February 2008 and increased by 3.5% (or 713 thousand persons) in relation to March 2007. The number of workers with a formal contract in the private sector remained constant compared to February and increased by 8.7% (with 749 new jobs with a formal contract) compared to March 2007. The number of unemployed persons (2.0 million) remained constant in comparison with the figure in February, but decreased by 14.1% (328 thousand persons) in comparison with Mach 2007.

The average real income of the employed persons (R$ 1,188.90) decreased by 0.6% in the monthly comparison and by 2.0% in relation to March 2007. The average real household income per capita (R$ 769.38) increased in the month (0.8%) and in the year (4.6%). The volume of real income of employed persons (R$ 25.5 billion) increased by 0.5% in the month and by 6.3% in the year.

In March 2008, the unemployed rate was 8.6%, for the group of six areas investigated by the Monthly Employment Survey of IBGE, and remained constant in relation to February, once the change by -0.1 percentage points is not considered statistically significant. Compared to March 2007, there was decrease by 1.5 percentage points. It is the lowest unemployment rate in a month of March, since 2002, when the new PME series started (see graph below).

By area, in the monthly comparison, there were not changes in this indicator in any of the areas surveyed. Compared to March last year, there was decrease in the metropolitan areas of Recife (2.3 percentage points), Belo Horizonte (1.4 percentage points), São Paulo (2.1 percentage points) and Porto Alegre (1.3 percentage points).

UNEMPLOYED PERSONS (PD)

The Monthly Employment Survey had, in comparison with February, stability in terms of the number of unemployed persons in the six metropolitan areas. In relation to March 2007, the estimate decreased by 14.1% (or 328 thousand persons).

In the analysis by area, this estimate did not present any change compared to February results. Compared to march 2007, there were decreases in the metropolitan areas of Recife (20.6%), Belo Horizonte (14.1%), São Paulo (16.7%) and Porto Alegre (13.2%).

Among the unemployed, 58.2% were women. In terms of age, the distribution was: 8.6% were up to 17 years; 38.8% were aged 18-24 years; 46.0%, 25-49 years and 6.5%, 50 years or over.

Among the unemployed, 21.0% were in search of their first job and 24.1% were the head of the household. In relation to the job-searching period: 22.0% had been looking for a job for a period no longer than 30 days; 50.7% for a period from 31 days to 6 months; 6.6%, from 7 to 11 months; and 20.7% for a period of at least 1 year. In March 2006, 49.0% of the unemployed persons had finished at least high school; in March 2007, 52.3% and, in the last survey, this figure reached 54.3%.

EMPLOYED PERSONS (PO)

The number of employed persons (21.3 million) in the group of six metropolitan areas surveyed did not present any change in relation to the pervious month, but increased 3.5% in relation to March 2007, that is: a total of 713 new job positions were created.

By area, in relation to the previous month, none of the metropolitan areas had statistically significant changes. In the annual comparison, there were increases in Belo Horizonte (4.3%), Rio de Janeiro (2.7%), São Paulo (4.3%) and Porto Alegre (4.7%).

In March 2008, men made up 55.9% of the employed population, whereas women, 44.1%. the population aged 25-49 years represented 63.3% of the total number of employed persons. The percentage of employed persons with 11 or more years of schooling was 55.3%.

The survey estimated as 58.1% the percentage of persons employed in enterprises with 11 or more workers. In enterprises with 6 to 10 employed persons, this percentage was 6.1%, whereas in those with 5 employed persons at most, the figure was 35.9%.

In March 2008, 51.2% of the employed population worked from 40 to 44 hours per week; about 31.2% of the persons worked over 45 hours per week. On average, 68.6% of the workers in the six metropolitan areas surveyed had had that job for at least 2 years; 11.0% had been in that job from 1 year to less than 2 years; 18.4% from 1 month to 1 year and only 2.0% had been in the same job for less than 1 month. The table below shows PME results according to the main groups of activity. 

In comparison with February 2008, the only group of activity to present significant change was Construction (4.3%). In comparison with March last year, three groups accounted for the rise of employment: Services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation (5.5%), Education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security (5.0%) and Other services (7.2%). The group Domestic services faced decrease (-6.1%).

Analysis of the type of participation of workers in the job market:

Workers WITH a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers, military servants, civil servants and other) (43.9% of the PO). In relation to February 2008, there was stability. In comparison with March 2007, there was 8.7% of increase.

In the analysis by area, considering the monthly comparison, there was stability in all the metropolitan areas.  In relation to March last year, there were increases in Recife (8.6%), Salvador (9.4%), Belo Horizonte (9.1%), São Paulo (11.9%) and Porto Alegre (6.4%).

Workers WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers, military servants, civil servants and other) (13.2% of the PO) There was stability in both periods.

In the analysis by area, there was decrease in comparison with February, in Salvador, and stability in the other metropolitan areas. In the annual comparison, there was decrease in Recife (-17.3%) and increase in Porto Alegre (10.5%).

Military or civil servants (7.7% of the PO). In relation to February 2008, there was stability in the group of six metropolitan areas surveyed, and increase (6.0%) compared to March 2007.

In the analysis by area, there was stability in all the areas in comparison with the previous month, and, in relation to March last year, there were increases in two areas: Belo Horizonte (12.1%) and Rio de Janeiro (11.3%).

Own-account workers (19.2% of the PO) In both periods of comparison, there was stability. In the analysis by area, there was also stability in both periods.

AVERAGE REAL INCOME¹

In March, for the group of six metropolitan areas, the average real income usually earned by workers (R$1,188.90) fell (-0.6%) in relation to February and increased (2.0%) in relation to March 2007.

In relation to the previous month, there were decreases in Recife (-4.3%), Salvador (-3.1%) and São Paulo (-1.9%); increases in Belo Horizonte (-3.1%) and Rio de Janeiro (-1.6%) and stability in Porto Alegre. In the annual comparison, there were increases in Salvador (5.8%), Belo Horizonte (8.2%), Rio de Janeiro (0.4%), São Paulo (0.8%) and Porto Alegre (5.6%).

The next table presents the changes of average real income earned by workers, by group of activity, in the month and in the year:

The table below shows the changes of average real income earned by the employed population, by group of activity, for the group of six metropolitan areas.

AVERAGE REAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME PER CAPITA

In March, in the group of six area surveyed, the average real household income per capita (R$ 769.38) increased in relation to the previous month (0,8%), and also in relation to March last year (4,6%).

In the analysis by area, in comparison with February, there were increases in Recife (0.7%), Belo Horizonte (3.7%), Rio de Janeiro (0.9%) and São Paulo (0.7%). There was decrease in Salvador (4.0%) and stability in Porto Alegre. Compared to march last year, there was recovery in Salvador (5.4%), Belo Horizonte (11.3%), Rio de Janeiro (0.7%), São Paulo (5.2%) and Porto Alegre (10.5%), and decrease in  Recife (1.3%). The following table shows the changes in the average real household income per capita in the group of six metropolitan areas covered by IBGE’s Monthly employment Survey. 

VOLUME OF REAL INCOME EARNED BY THE EMPLOYED POPULATION

The volume of real income earned by the employed population was R$ 25.2 billion, according to the Monthly Employment Survey of March 2008 (having February 2008 as the month of reference), in the group of six metropolitan areas surveyed. There were increases in relation to January 2008 (0.4%) and also in relation to February 2007 (6.4%).

In comparison with January 2008, there were decreases in Recife (4.0%), Salvador (-5.9%) and Porto Alegre (-1.1%), and increases in Belo Horizonte (2.7%) and Rio de Janeiro (2.9%). In São Paulo, there was stability. In comparison with February 2007, there were increases in Salvador (5.5%), Belo Horizonte (12.7%), Rio de Janeiro (2.3%), São Paulo (7.4%) and Porto Alegre (12.1%). In Recife, there was decrease (-0.7%).

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¹ Income usually earned