The unemployment rate increased by 1.4 percentage points from December 2008 to January 2009 reaching 8.2% in the beginning of this year.  In the comparison with January 2008 (8.0%), there was not change.  The unemployed population (1.9 million persons) increased by 20.6% in relation to December and was stable in the comparison with January of the previous year.

The employed population (21.2 million) diminished by 1.6% from December to January; compared to January 2008, however, there was increase of 1.9%, summing more 385 thousand persons working.  The number of workers with a formal contract (9.5 million) decreased by 1.3% in relation to December and increased by 4.5% in the annual comparison.

The average income in effect (R$ 1,318.70) increased by 2.2% in the month and by 5.9% compared to January 2008.  The average household income in effect per capita (R$ 840.62) brought hikes in the month (1.7%) and in the year (6.4%).  The volume of real income in effect of the employed population of December 2008 ¹  (R$ 35 billion) recorded change of 17.6% in the month and increase of 7.1% in the comparison with December 2007. 

In January 2009, the unemployment rate ² was estimated in 8.2% for the group of six metropolitan areas surveyed by the Monthly Employment Survey of IBGE (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Recife and Porto Alegre), with hike of 1.4 percentage point in relation to December and stability in relation to January 2008 (8.0%).

In the analysis by areas, in the monthly comparison, this index increased in four areas: Salvador (1.2 percentage points), Belo Horizonte (0.9 percentage points), São Paulo (2.3 percentage points) and Porto Alegre (0.9 percentage points).  In relation to January 2008, decrease was observed in Recife (-1.5 percentage points).

In the comparison with last December, the number of unemployed persons ³  increased in the total six surveyed areas (20.6%).  In relation to January 2008, this estimate recorded stability.  In the analysis by areas, hikes were observed in relation to December in the metropolitan areas of Salvador (13.5%), Belo Horizonte (15.0%), São Paulo (32.6%) and Porto Alegre (17.1%).  In the comparison with January 2008, change was observed only in São Paulo (12.6%).

EMPLOYED PERSONS (PO)

In January, the employed population in the six areas (21.2 million) decreased by 1.6% in relation to the previous month and increased by 1.9% (approximately 385 thousand jobs) in relation to January 2008.

In the analysis by areas, in relation to the previous month, the estimate decreased in Recife (-2.8%), Belo Horizonte (-2.1%), São Paulo (-2.0%) and Porto Alegre (-3.2%).  In the annual comparison, increases were recorded in the metropolitan areas of Recife (4.0%) and São Paulo (2.2%).

The level of employment  ⁴ (52.1%) in the total six areas decreased by 1.1 percentage points in the monthly comparison and was stable in relation to January 2008.  In the analysis by areas, in the comparison with December, there was change of approximately 1.3 percentage points in the metropolitan areas of Recife, Belo Horizonte and São Paulo and of 1.7 percentage points in Porto Alegre.  In the comparison with January 2008, the scenario was of stability in all the areas.

Results in relation to the main groups of activity

In the comparison with December, the number of employed persons recorded decrease in the groups of construction (-4.7%) and trade, repair of automotive vehicles and of personal and domestic objects and retail fuel trade (-2.5%).  In the annual comparison, there was increase in the group education, health, social services, public administration, defense and social security (5.1%). 

Analysis of classes of workers in the labor market

Employees WITH a formal contract in the private sector (excluding household workers, military, statutory public servants and others) (44.9% of the PO).   Decrease of 1.3% in relation to December and hike of 4.5% in the annual comparison.

In the analysis by areas, in the monthly comparison, decrease in São Paulo (-2.4%).  In relation to January 2008, hikes in Recife (8.2%), Salvador (7.3%), Belo Horizonte (5.0%), Rio de Janeiro (5.3%) and Porto Alegre (4.1%).

Employees WITHOUT a formal contract in the private sector (excluding household workers, military, statutory public servants and others) (12.8% of the PO).  Decrease of 4.5% in relation to December and stability compared to January 2008.

In the analysis by areas, the scenario was of stability in the monthly comparison.  In the year, decrease of 12.0% was recorded in the metropolitan areas of Recife and Porto Alegre.

Military or statutory public servants (7.9% of the PO).  Stability in relation to December and increase of 10.4% compared to January 2008.

In the analysis by areas, in the monthly comparison, increase in Salvador (13.5%).  In the annual comparison increases in Belo Horizonte (16.9%) and Rio de Janeiro (11.1%) were recorded.

Own-account workers (18.6% of the PO).  Stability in both periods of comparison was recorded.  In the analysis by areas, decrease in relation to December in Porto Alegre (-7.8%).  In the annual comparison, hike in Recife (14.5%) and decrease in Salvador (-8.8%) and Rio de Janeiro (-8.3%).

AVERAGE REAL INCOME ⁵

In January 2009, for the six areas, the average real income in effect (R$ 1,318.70) had hike of 2.2% in relation to December 2008 and 5.9% in relation to January 2008.

In the analysis by areas, in relation to the previous month, there were hikes in the metropolitan areas of Rio de Janeiro (0.9%), São Paulo (5.5%) and Porto Alegre (5.1%) and decrease in Recife (-1.0%), Salvador (-5.6%) and Belo Horizonte (-5.3%).  In the annual comparison, five areas recorded increase: Salvador (2.0%), Belo Horizonte (7.5%), Rio de Janeiro (6.7%), São Paulo (6.5%) and Porto Alegre (4.4%).

Income of classes of workers 

In the comparison with December 2008 (monthly):

Employees with a formal contract in the private sector (R$ 1,259.30). (-0.9%).  Decrease in Recife (-5.3%), Salvador (-8.1%), Belo Horizonte (-4.8%) and Porto Alegre (-0.8%).  Increase in Rio de Janeiro (1.6%) and stability in São Paulo.

Employees without a formal contract in the private sector (R$ 855.40). (6.7%).  Hikes in Recife (0.9%), Salvador (7.0%), São Paulo (13.4%) and Porto Alegre (8.0%), decrease in Belo Horizonte (-13.0%) and stability in Rio de Janeiro.

Military or statutory public servants (R$ 2,308.30). (1.6%).  Hikes in Belo Horizonte (0.8%), São Paulo (6.6%) and Porto Alegre (8.2%) and decreases in Recife (-1.9%), Rio de Janeiro (-0.8%) and  Salvador (-11.8%).

Own-account workers (R$ 1,091.50). (4.2%). Decreases in Recife (-0.7%), Salvador (-1.1%) and Belo Horizonte (-5.3%), increase in Rio de Janeiro (4.0%) and São Paulo (8.6%) and stability in Porto Alegre.

In the comparison with January 2008 (annual):

Employees with a formal contract in the private sector, (4.1%). Hikes in Salvador (3.7%), Belo Horizonte (4.9%), Rio de Janeiro (4.4%), São Paulo (5.1%) and Porto Alegre (2.3%) and decrease in Recife (-3.6%).

Employees without a formal contract in the private sector. (-2.2%).  Increase in Recife (6.6%), Salvador (6.3%) and Rio de Janeiro (7.7%) and decrease in Belo Horizonte (-21.5%), São Paulo (-3.8%) and Porto Alegre (-2.1%). 

Military or statutory public servants, (5.9%). Increase in all the metropolitan areas: Recife (9.2%), Salvador (2.9%), Belo Horizonte (5.4%), Rio de Janeiro (2.8%), São Paulo (9.4%) and Porto Alegre (3.3%). 

Own-account workers, (7.5%). Recovery in all the areas: Recife (1.6%), Salvador (12.3%), Belo Horizonte (11.4%), Rio de Janeiro (7.7%), São Paulo (6.8%) and Porto Alegre (5.4%).

In the table below, the real income of workers according to the groups of activity may be observed. 

AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD REAL INCOME PER CAPITA ⁶

In January 2009, for the total six areas, the average household real income per capita (R$ 840.62) increased in relation to December (1.7%) and January 2008 (6.4%).

In the analysis by areas, in the month, there were hikes in Rio de Janeiro (1.2%), São Paulo (5.4%) and Porto Alegre (0.8%) and decrease in Recife (-1.5%), Salvador (-4.1%) and Belo Horizonte (-7.7%).  In the year, all areas recorded recovery: Recife (4.8%), Salvador (3.1%), Belo Horizonte (5.0%), Rio de Janeiro (8.2%), São Paulo (7.6%) and Porto Alegre (2.0%).

VOLUME OF REAL INCOME IN EFFECT OF THE EMPLOYED POPULATION ⁷

The volume of real income in effect of the employed population (R$ 35 billion) in December 2008 (based on the Monthly Employment Survey of January 2009 increased in relation to November (17.6%) and December 2007 (7.1%) for the six metropolitan areas.

In relation to November 2008, there were hikes in all areas surveyed: Recife (35.0%), Salvador (9.1%), Belo Horizonte (17.2%), Rio de Janeiro (16.4%), São Paulo (17.4%) and Porto Alegre (19.8%).  In the comparison with December 2007, there were hikes in Recife (4.8%), Belo Horizonte (5.4%), Rio de Janeiro (13.6%), São Paulo (7.5%) and Porto Alegre (6.3%) and decrease in Salvador (-10.2%).

NOTES

1 - The income in effect is the income of the previous month of the month in which the data collection is being conducted.

2 - Proportion of unemployed persons in relation to the economically active population.

3 - Persons who were not working, were available to work in the week of reference and had taken action in order to find a job in the thirty days before the week in which they answered the survey.

4 - Proportion of persons employed in relation to active-age population.

5 - Income usually earned. The deflator used for the calculation of the real income for each area is the Consumer Price Index of the metropolitan area produced by IBGE.  In order to calculate the income of the total six metropolitan areas covered by the survey, the deflator is the weighed average of the price indexes of these areas.  The weighing variable is the resident population in the urban area of the metropolitan area.

6 - Division of the household monthly income, originated from work , by the number of components of the household unit, excluding pensioners, household workers or ther relatives.

7 - Sum of the income earned in effect in all works in the month of reference of the survey, which is the previous month of the one in which the survey is released.