The unemployment rate in April 2012 was estimated at 6.0% for the group of six metropolitan areas. In comparison with March (6.2%), there was not a significant statistical change. Compared with April 2011, when the rate was 6.4%, there was a decrease of 6.4%, there was a decrease of 0.4 percentage points. The unemployed population was estimated at 1.5 million employed persons in April in the total of six metropolitan areas surveyed, recording stability in relation to the previous month and to April 2011. The employed population reached 22.7 million for the group of six areas, not posting a significant change against March. Contrasting with April 2011, there was an increase of 1.8%, which meant a rise of 396 thousand employed persons within this contingent in 12 months. The number of workers with a formal labor contract in the private sector, in April this year, was 11.1 million in the group of areas surveyed. This result was considered stable against March. In the comparison with April 2011, there was a growth of 2.8%, accounting for an increment of 308 thousand jobs with a formal contract in a year.  The employed persons’ real average income usually earned, estimated in April 2012 at R$ 1,719.50 for the total of six areas, fell 1.2% in relation to March 2012. In the comparison with April 2011 this estimate rose 6.2%. The employed persons’ volume of real average income usually earned, estimated at R$ 39.4 billion in April 2012, fell 0.9% against March and grew 8.0% as compared to April 2011. The employed persons’ volume of effective real income (R$ 39.1 billion), estimated in March 2012, was stable in the month and rose by 7.8% in the year. 

The Monthly Employment Survey is conducted in the metropolitan areas of Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Rio de janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre. The complete publication can be accessed at

www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/trabalhoerendimento/pme_nova.

Comparison with March figures shows stability of unemployment in all the areas surveyed

By area, in the analysis by month, the unemployment rate did not record significant changes in any of the metropolitan areas surveyed. Compared with April 2011, the rate decreased by 1.9 percentage points in the metropolitan areas of Recife and Salvador. The estimate for Rio de Janeiro rose 0.8 percentage points and remained stable in the other areas.

The regional analysis versus March figures indicated there were no significant changes in the unemployed population.  Versus April 2011, there was decrease of the number of persons employed in the metropolitan areas of Recife (25.2%) and Salvador (18.6%). There was increase of the estimate in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro (21.2%). In the metropolitan areas of Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre, there was stability.

Employment level stays at 53.7%

The employment level (proportion of employed persons in relation to persons at active age) was estimated at 53.7% in April 2012 in the group of six metropolitan areas. From March to April, this indicator was not changed, what also occurred in the comparison with April last year. By area, in the monthly comparison, there was stability. 

An analysis of the number of unemployed persons from March to April 2012, by group of economic activity, shows that Construction was the only one recording increase (4.7%, an increment of 84 thousand persons). Compared to April 2011, there were increases in the metropolitan areas of construction (9.9%, 168 thousand persons more) and education, health, public administration (5.7%, or 196 thousand persons) and stability in the other groups.

Monthly comparison shows decrease of average income in four metropolitan areas

The average income usually earned by workers, in the regional analysis and compared with March figures, recorded increases in the metropolitan areas of Porto Alegre (1.0%) and Belo Horizonte (0.5%).  There was decline in São Paulo (1.7%), Recife (1.6%), Rio de Janeiro (1.6%) and Salvador (1.4%). Over April last year there was increase of income in all the areas surveyed. 

Considering the classification by activity groups, the biggest increase in the average income usually earned by the employed population was 10.9% in Domestic Services. 

In the classification by employment status, the biggest increase of the average real income usually earned, compared with figures of April 2011, was recorded by self-employed workers (12.9%).