The number of persons unemployed (1.8 million) in the total areas surveyed did not change in terms of the monthly comparison, and decreased (-14.1%) compared to the figure recorded in March last year. By area, in relation to February, the unemployed population increased in Rio de Janeiro (13.4%) and in Porto Alegre (17.5%). In the analysis by year, there was decrease in Recife (-19.7%) and São Paulo (-22.5%). 

The unemployment rate remained statistically stable in relation to the figure in February (7.4%) and decreased by 1.4 percentage points in relation to the result in March 2009 (9.0%). This is the lowest rate for a month of March, considering the complete PME series, which started in 2002. The unemployed population (1.8 million) remained stable in the monthly comparison and decreased (-14.1%) in relation to March 2009. The employed population (21.7 million) remained stable in the month and increased by 3.8% in the year (with more 796 thousand new jobs). The number of workers with a formal contract (10 million) was stable in the month and increased 7.2% in relation to the figure in March 2009 (with more 668 thousand new jobs with a formal contract).

The average real income usually earned by workers (R$ 1,413.40) increased 0.4% in the month and 1.5% compared to the figure in March 2009. The average real income received by the employed population (R$ 31 billion),

relative to March 2010, increased 0.6% in the month and 5.2% in the year. The volume of real income effectively received by the employed population (R$ 30.7 billion), relative to February 2010, increased 0.4% in the month and 6.3% in the year.  
The household income per capita was stable in the month and increased 3.5% in the year.

In March 2010, the unemployment rate (7.6%) estimated by IBGE’s Monthly Employment Survey was stable in relation to the figure in February, and decreased 1.4 percentage points compared to the one in March 2009, in the group of six metropolitan areas surveyed (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Recife and Porto Alegre). By area, compared to figures in February, the rate increased in the metropolitan areas of do Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre, 0.8 percentage points in both, and remained unchanged in the other ones.

In the analysis by year, the unemployment rate decreased 2.3 percentage points in Recife and São Paulo.

The unemployment rates of March, both in the average of six metropolitan areas surveyed and in each one individually, were the lowest ones for this month in all the new series of IBGE’s Monthly Employment Survey IBGE, which started in 2002, as shown in the table below: 

EMPLOYED POPULATION

In March 2010, the employed population (21.7 million) in the group of six metropolitan areas surveyed remained stable compared to the result in February and increased by 3.8% in the year (with more 796 thousand new jobs in the period).

Among the groups of activity, there was stability in the average of the six metropolitan areas surveyed, except in Services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation, with increase of 2.9% in comparison with the February rate. In relation to March 2009, there was increase in three groups: Construction (10.6%), Services rendered to enterprises, rents, real estate activities and financial mediation (7.9%) and Other services (5.6%).

The number of workers with a formal contract in the private sector (10.0 million) remained stable in the monthly comparison and increased 7.2% in the year (with more 668 thousand jobs with a formal contract). In March 2010, the percentage of workers with a formal contract in the private sector in relation to the whole employed population was 46.0%.

INCOME

The real income usually earned by workers (R$ 1,413.40) has increased in the monthly comparison (0.4%) since March last year (1.5%).

The table below shows the changes in the real income usually earned, by groups of activity:

By position in the occupation, in relation to February, there were hikes in the group of workers without a formal contract in the private sector (0.8%) and own-account workers (0.6%). There was decrease among workers with a formal contract in the private sector (-0.6%) and military or civil servants (-1.0%).

Compared to March 2009, there were hikes for workers without a formal contract in the private sector (10.7%), for military or statutory civil servants (1.5%) and for own-account workers (1.6%). The income received by workers WITH a formal contract did not change significantly, in statistical terms (0.3%).

VOLUME OF INCOME

The volume of real income usually earned by the employed population (R$ 31 billion) increased 0.6% in relation to the figure relative to last February and by 5.2% in relation to March 2009.

The volume of real income effectively received by the employed population (R$ 30.7 billion) increased 0.4% in relation to last January and (6.3%) in relation to February 2009.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME PER CAPITA

In relation to last February, the household income per capita did not change significant statistical change (-0.3%), but increased 3.5% in relation to March 2009. The table below shows the figures and changes of this indicator for the six metropolitan areas investigated by the Monthly Employment Survey.