Compared to the immediately previous month, the rate has remained virtually unchanged (-0.1%), in accordance with the scenario of stability observed for industrial activity this year. In comparison with the same month in the previous year, there has been increase of 2.1%, at a lower rate than in the last few months. The indicator accumulated between January and May was 2.8%, and the index accumulated in the last twelve months (2.7%) was the same as in April. Real payroll increased 0.8% in the comparison month/immediately previous month (seasonally adjusted figure). In comparisons with similar periods in 2007, salary indicators were positive: 7.0% for the monthly index and 6.4% accumulated in the year. The index accumulated in the last twelve months had slight increments in the increase rate (6.1%), after having remained constant in March and April (5.9%). Figures have been above 5.0% since December 2007.

SALARIED EMPLOYED PERSONS

In May, industrial employment was practically stable in comparison with the previous month (0.1%), in the seasonally adjusted series, after reduction of 0.3% in April. The quarterly moving average index keeps the level of stability observed since December 2007, with -0.1% between the quarters which ended between April and May.

In comparison with the same month in the previous year, employment has completed a sequence of twenty-three positive rates, with increase of 2.1%. The indicator accumulated in the period January-May was 2.8%, below the result of the first four months in the year (3.0%), and the index accumulated in the last twelve months (2.7%) was the same as in April.

In the quarterly index, the increase of 2.1% in the number of workers was a consequence, above all, of the positive results in nine of the fourteen areas and in twelve of the eighteen segments surveyed. São Paulo (3.9%), Minas Gerais (3.5%) and the North and Central West Regions (2.3%) were the main positive impacts, being the highlights, respectively, the subsectors: electronic and communications machines and equipment (17.2%) and means of transportation (9.2%), in the first area; food products and beverages (9.0%) and means of transportation (15.9%), in Minas Gerais; and food products and beverages (12.9%) in the Central West and North Regions. On the other hand, the main negative highlights came from Pernambuco (-4.9%) and Santa Catarina (-0.9%), affected, respectively, by food products and beverages (-10.0%) and wood (-16.3%).

By subsector, in the country, the positive highlights in terms of the monthly indicator were: machinery and equipment (10.7%), means of transportation (9.7%), electronic and communications machines and equipment (12.3%), metal products (8.6%) and food products and beverages (2.9%). On the other hand, with the main negative impacts featured: footwear and leather articles (-11.9%), apparel (-5.9%) and textiles (-7.2%).

Considering the indicator accumulated in January-May, the number of employed persons increased by 2.8% in relation to the same period in the previous year, with positive contributions from eleven areas and eleven subsectors. Among the areas, the highlights were São Paulo (4.3%), Minas Gerais (3.1%) and North and Central West Regions (3.4%), whereas, on the other hand, the main negative contributions were those of Santa Catarina (-0.5%) and Espírito Santo (-2.2%). Among the subsectors, machinery and equipment (13.1%), means of transportation (10.9%), electronic and communications machines and equipment (13.0%) and food products and beverages (3.1%) were the most significant positive contributions, whereas footwear and leather articles (-11.5%), apparel (-4.8%) and wood (-8.2%) were the most significant negative contributions.

NUMBER OF HOURS PAID

In May, the number of hours paid to industry workers decreased by 0.7% compared to the previous year, in the series without seasonal adjustment, after positive change of 0.3% in April. The quarterly moving average indicator decreased by 0.5% between the quarters which ended in April and may, after a sequence of three positive results, in a period when it accumulated increase of 1.0%.

In relation to May 2007, there was increase of 1.6%, the twentieth consecutive positive rate. The indicator accumulated in the year, with increase of 2.6%, was below the result of the first four months of the year (2.9%), both comparisons versus the same period in the previous year. The index accumulated in the last twelve months, on an upward trend since September 2006, was stable from April to May (2.4%).

In terms of the monthly indicator, there were increases in eight of the fourteen areas and in eleven of the eighteen subsectors surveyed. In the analysis by subsector, the most significant positive contributions came from machinery and equipment (10.0%), means of transportation and (10.3%) and metal products (9.4%). On the other hand, the main negative impacts to the overall rate were those of footwear and leather articles (-14.1%), apparel (-6.5%) and wood (-9.0%).

Also in the comparison with may 2007, the indexes by area for the number of hours paid showed that the areas with the most significant performances to the national result were São Paulo (3.6%), Minas Gerais (4.2%) and North and Central West Region (1.9%).  In the industry of São Paulo, there was increase of the number of hours paid in fourteen activities, being the main highlight means of transportation (9.8%), electronic and communications machinery and equipment (11.5%) and machinery and equipment (6.7%). In Minas Gerais, means of transportation (19.3%) and food products and beverages (6.9%) were the main positive contributions; in the North and Central West regions, the most significant increase was that of food products and beverages 912.3%). On the other hand, the main negative influence came from Pernambuco (-7.2%), where food products and beverages (-12.75) and apparel (-19.1%) were the main negative positive impacts.

The increase of 2.6% in the period accumulated in January-May resulted, above all, from the positive contributions of twelve areas and twelve subsectors. The main subsectors accounting for the total increases in the country were São Paulo (4.2%), Minas Gerais (3.4%) and North and Central West Regions (3.3%). On the other hand, the main negative contribution came from Espírito Santo (-2.6%). By subsector, the most significant negative impacts to the overall rate came from machinery and equipment 913.8%), means of transportation (12.0%) and metal products (10.3%). On the other hand, footwear and leather articles (-12.90%) and apparel (-4.7%) were the main negative highlights.

REAL PAYROLL

In May, the seasonally adjusted value of real payroll of industry workers increased by 0.8% in comparison with the immediately previous month, after decreasing by 1.4% in April. The quarterly moving average indicator increased 0.8% in comparison with the immediately previous month, after decrease of 1.4% in April. The quarterly moving average indicator increased by 0.7% between the quarters which ended in April and may, having the fourth consecutive positive rate, accumulating +2.9% in the period. Differently from the quarterly moving average index for production, employed persons and the number of hours paid,

which had stable results, real payroll presents a tendency to positive results.

In comparison with similar periods in the previous year, results remained positive: 7.0% in the monthly indicator and 6.4% accumulated in the year. The indicator accumulated in the last twelve months had slight acceleration in the increase rate of May (6.%), after being stable in March and April (5.9%). It has presented rates above 5.0% since December 2007.

Real payroll increased by 7.0% in relation to the same month in the previous year, with positive rates in the fourteen areas surveyed. The main positive influence was that of São Paulo (8.3%), based, mainly, on the increments observed in means of transportation (14.1%), chemical products (24.1%) and electronic and communications machines and equipment (13.2%). It is also worth mentioning Minas Gerais (9.8%), in which the highlights were metallurgy (12.3%) and means of transportation (13.9%); Rio Grande do Sul (6.1%), especially metal products and machinery and equipment (23.1%); and Paraná (7.6%), due, mainly, to the increase of payroll for the subsectors machinery and equipment (33.1%) and food products and beverages (9.8%).

By subsector, still considering the monthly indicator, real payroll increased in twelve of the eighteen subsectors surveyed, being the main positive highlights those of means of transportation (13.2%), chemical products (14.4%) and metal products (18.5%). On the other hand, the main negative contributions came from paper and printing (-8.4%), footwear and leather articles (-9.9%) and wood (-5.5%).

The indicator accumulated in the year increased 6.4%, with increments in all the areas. The most relevant positive contributions to the national result were those of São Paulo (7,7%), Minas Gerais (7,3%) e Rio Grande do Sul (6,3%). In these areas, the highlights were, respectively, the subsectors of means of transportation (14.6%) and chemical products (15.1%); means of transportation (15.6%) and basic metallurgy (8.3%); and metal products (41.9%) and machinery and (21.7%). Considering the subsectors, there was increase of salary volume in, with the main positive contributions coming from means of transportation (13.6%), machinery and equipment (8.9%) and metal products (13.3%). On the other hand, the main salary reductions were observed in footwear and leather articles (-7.8%) and paper and printing (-3.5%).