The rate represented the second consecutive positive evolution in the month/immediately previous month comparison, seasonally adjusted. Considering the same month of last year, there was a decrease (-6.7%), as well as in the accumulated index of 2009 (-5.5%). The number of hours paid changed by 0.3% between July and August, in the seasonally adjusted series. But compared to August/08, there was a decrease (-7.0%), the same happening in the accumulated in the year (-6.3%). Real payroll recorded a decrease in all comparisons: -0.4% from July to August (seasonally adjusted); -6.2% in relation to August/08; and -2.2% accumulated in the year.

SALARIED EMPLOYED PERSONS

In August, industrial employment marked the second consecutive positive variation of 0.3% compared to the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series, after having decreased by 7.3% between October 2008 and June 2009. Thus, the quarterly moving average index, which had been presenting a slower rhythm since February, recorded the first positive variation (0.2%) since November of last year.

Compared to equivalent periods of the previous year, results remain negative: in relation to August 2008, the decrease was 6.7%, and in the index accumulated in the year, -5.5%. The indicator accumulated in the last 12 months continues on a downward trend initiated in August of last year, reaching -3.5% in August 2009.

For the monthly index (-6.7%), the number of workers diminished in the 14 surveyed areas, with highlights being São Paulo (-4.7%), Minas Gerais (-11.4%), North and Central West regions (-10.7%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-9.1%). In the first place, the main contributions came from means of transportation (-14.8%) and machines and equipment (-11.2%); in the second, the impacts of apparel (-25.5%) and food products and beverages (-6.6%) were the most relevant; in the third, the highlights were wood (-30.1%) and electronic and communication machines and equipment (-22.3%); and in the industry of Rio Grande do Sul, footwear and leather articles (-15.9%) and machines and equipment (-15.5%).

In the whole country, industrial employment decreased in 16 of the 18 sectors, considering August 2008, with means of transportation (-13.1%), machines and equipment (-12.4%), metal products (-11.3%) and footwear and leather articles (-10.0%) exerting the main negative pressures on the overall rate. By contrast, paper and graphic (7.1%) and tobacco (2.4%) were the only negative impacts.

For the indicator accumulated in the year, the number of employed persons in industry was 5.5% bigger than that in equal period of last year. This result was based on reductions observed in the 14 places and in 17 branches. Among the places, São Paulo (-4.2%), Minas Gerais (-8.0%), North and Central West regions (-8.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-7.4%) were the main negative contributions. Among the investigated sectors, in the whole country, the most relevant negative pressures came from means of transportation (-9.0%), apparel (-8.8%), machines and equipment (-8.3%) and metal products (-9.1%). On the other hand, paper and graphic (6.9%) marked the only positive impact on overall result.

In brief, in the seasonally adjusted series, industrial employment recorded, in the comparison month/previous month, the second positive rate, progressing by 0.6% in this period, influenced by the more dynamic productive activity during 2009. Consequently, the quarterly moving average index presented the first positive rate (0.2%) since the end of last year. Yet, in the comparisons with equivalent periods of the previous year, results remained negative both considering August 2008 and in the index accumulated in the year.

NUMBER OF HOURS PAID

In August, the number of hours paid by the industrial sector increased again (0.3%) when compared to the immediately previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series, after having been stable in July (0.0%). The quarterly moving average index interrupted the downward trend initiated in October of last year, by presenting a 0.3% positive variation between July and August.

For the other indicators, the results of total hours paid in production continued negative: -7.0% in relation to August of last year, -6.3% accumulated in the year and -4.0% accumulated in the last 12 months.

By comparison with the equivalent month of the previous year, the number of hours paid was negative in all surveyed places, with North and Central West regions (-12.1%) exhibiting the largest decrease. The Southeast region exerted the main negative pressure on the overall rate of -7.0%, particularly due to falls observed in São Paulo (-4.9%) and Minas Gerais (-10.8%), where highlights were, respectively, reductions in: means of transportation (-15.5%), machines and equipment (-13.8%); apparel (-26.6%) and basic metallurgy (-14.6%).

In the analysis by sector, still comparing August 09/August 08, there was reduction in the number of hours paid in 16 of the 18 surveyed segments, the main negative impact coming from machines and equipment (-14.4%), followed by means of transportation (-13.1%) and metal products (-11.5%). Conversely, paper and graphic (4.5%) and tobacco (4.8%) were the positive impacts.

For the index accumulated in the year (-6.3%) there were, by sector, reductions in the number of hours paid of 15 industrial branches, the main negative contributions to overall results coming from means of transportation (-11.2%) and machines and equipment (-10.9%). On the other hand, paper and graphic (6.0%), petroleum refining and alcohol production (2.7%), and non-metallic minerals (0.6%) revealed the positive impacts in this comparison. In the analysis by region, among the 14 places that reduced the number of hours paid, São Paulo (-4.8%), North and Central West regions (-10.2%), Minas Gerais (-7.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-9.2%) exerted the main negative pressures on the overall rate.

REAL PAYROLL

In August, the seasonally adjusted real payroll amount of industry workers decreased by 0.4% compared to the immediately previous month, after having been stable in July (0.0%). Therefore, the quarterly moving average index presented a drop of 0.7% between quarters ending in July and August, after having marked a variation of 0.1% in July.

Comparisons with equivalent periods of the previous year still showed negative results: -6.2% in the monthly indicator and -2.2% in the accumulated in the year. The indicator accumulated in the last 12 months also points out a reduction of rhythm, changing from 1.5% in July to 0.3% in August, and goes on a downward trend initiated in September of 2008 (6.7%).

The real payroll amount showed a fall of 6.2% in relation to the same period of the previous year, the sixth consecutive negative result, with negative rates in 13 of the 14 surveyed places. The main negative contribution came from São Paulo (-3.3%), pressed by means of transportation (-10.6%), electronic and communication machines and equipment (-11.2%) and non-metallic minerals (-16.1%). It is worth emphasizing the losses coming from Minas Gerais (-11.0%), because of basic metallurgy (-21.2%) and food products and beverages (-7.3%); Rio de Janeiro (-12.6%) and Northeast region (-9.7%), due to mining and quarrying industry (-32.4% and -34.9%) and petroleum refining and alcohol production (-40.3% and -29.4%). Both were negatively influenced by an elevated basis for comparison, because of payment of profit sharing in an important enterprise in 2008.

By sector, still for the monthly indicator, the amount of real payroll decreased in 13 of the 18 industrial branches, with major negative impacts coming from mining and quarrying industry (-25.1%), means of transportation (-9.3%), basic metallurgy (-17.4%) and machines and equipment (-8.0%). On the other hand, paper and graphic (14.7%) and food products and beverages (1.6%) exerted the most significant positive contributions.

The indicator accumulated in the year presented fall of 2.2%, with reduction on the amount of real payroll in 10 of the 14 places. The main negative contributions were observed in São Paulo (-2.2%), Rio Grande do Sul (-7.0%) and Minas Gerais (-4.5%). In those places, the most drastic decreases were marked, respectively, in means of transportation (-5.3%) and electronic and communication machines and equipment (-10.6%); in means of transportation (-16.2%) and footwear and leather articles (-9.4%); and basic metallurgy (-11.8%) and means of transportation (-8.3%). Conversely, Rio de Janeiro (1.6%) and Espírito Santo (5.3%) exerted the main influences, because of, respectively, the decreases of 13.6% and 11.8% in mining and quarrying industry.

By sector, 13 activities reduced their real payroll, with means of transportation (-5.6%), machines and equipment (-5.2%), electronic and communication machines and equipment (-7.8%) and basic metallurgy (-9.1%) exerting the main negative pressures. Conversely, the major positive impacts came from paper and graphic (12.6%) and mining and quarrying industry (12.9%).