The unemployment rate for Brazil was estimated at 7.1% in the first quarter of 2014. The rate rose in relation to the fourth quarter of 2013 (6.2%) and dropped in relation to the first quarter of 2013 (8.0%). The employment level for the same period (56.7%) declined in relation to the fourth quarter of 2013 (57.3%) and increased against the first quarter of 2013 (56.3%).
In the first quarter of 2014, approximately 77.7% of the persons employed in the private sector had a formal labor contract, an upgrade of 1.6 percentage points over the first quarter of 2013. Still considering this indicator, the North (64.6%) and Northeast (62.8%) Regions registered the lowest percentages.
The Continuous PNAD uses the new concepts recommended by the International Labor Organization (ILO). Any other information on the survey can be found on  https://www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/trabalhoerendimento/pnad_continua/.

At regional level, the Northeast registered the highest unemployment rate (9.3%) and the South, the lowest rate (4.3%), in the first quarter of 2014. Comparing the first quarter of 2014 with the fourth quarter of 2013, all the regions recorded a higher unemployment rate. In relation to the first quarter of 2013, the unemployment rate declined in all the regions. The survey pointed out significant differences between men´s and women´s unemployment rates.

Also in relation to the first quarter of 2013, the unemployment rate declined in all age groups and for both sexes. The unemployment rate for the group aged between 18 and 24 years (15.7%) was much higher than the overall average (7.1%). Such behavior was reported both in Brazil and in the five Major Regions.

North and Northeast reveal highest percentages of self-employed workers

In the first quarter of 2014, the employed population comprised 70.1% of employees, 4.1% of employers, 23.0% of self-employed workers and 2.9% of assisting family workers. This picture did not significantly change along the time series of the survey.

The percentage of self-employed workers was higher in the North (30.2%) and Northeast (29.6%) Regions than in the other regions. The same happened to assisting family workers. The North (6.9%) and Northeast (4.4%) Regions registered a higher participation of these workers. In the first quarter of 2014, a significant share of persons was employed in the private sector (73.2%), 17.6% in the public sector and and the others (9.2%) in domestic services.

Southeast and South register highest percentages of employed persons with formal contract

In the first quarter of 2014, 77.7% of the persons employed in the private sector had a formal labor contract, an upgrade of 0.7 percentage points over the first quarter of 2013. The survey pointed out that 31.4% of the domestic workers had a formal labor contract, a picture unchanged along the year.

The North (64.6%) and the Northeast (62.8%) Regions recorded figures lower than those from  other regions (see table below). The comparison between the first quarter of 2014 and the same quarter of 2013 recorded the increase of this indicator in all the Major Regions.

All regions show differences between men´s and women´s employment-population ratios

In the first quarter of 2014, the South (61.2%) and Central-West (61.1%) Regions posted the highest employment-population ratios - percentage of persons working among those at work age - and the Northeast Region, the lowest (51.6%). All the regions increased their employment-population ratio in relation to the first quarter a year ago. Compared with the immediately previous quarter, all the regions dropped.

In the first quarter of 2014, the employment-population ratio was estimated at 68.3% for men and at 46.2% for women. Such difference was reported in all the regions, the highest difference in the North and the lowest, in the South.

In the first quarter of 2014, the employment-population ratio of the group aged between 25 and 39 years was estimated at 75.3% and at 69.1% for the group aged between 40 and 59 years. For those in the group aged between 18 and 24 years, the estimate was 57.3%. The estimate was 16.6% for underage persons (aged between 14 and 17 years), while it was 21.8% for senior citizens (aged 60 and over). 

Concerning this indicator, the regional differences were significant. The employment-population ratio of those aged between 18 and 24 years in the South and Central-West Regions was close to that of the adult population in the Northeast, as showed in the following graph.

Graph 15 - Employment-population ratio according to age, in the reference week, of persons aged 14 years and over,
 by Major Regions - 1st quarter of 2014

In general, the employment-population ratio was higher in the groups with higher education. In the first quarter of 2014, slightly less than one third (32.6%) of the persons without any education was working. As to those with complete higher education, the employment-population ratio reached 80.0%.

Northeast remains with the highest percentage (43.1%) of persons out of workforce

In the first quarter of 2014, 38.9% of persons at work age in Brazil were classified as out of the workforce, i.e., those neither employed nor unemployed in the reference week of the survey. The following table shows the complete time series of the Continuous PNAD.

 The Northeast registered the highest percentage of persons out of the workforce (43.1%), and the South (36%) and Central-West (35.1%) Regions, the lowest. This picture did not significantly change along the time series. Women were the majority in this population: approximately 66.4% in the first quarter of 2014. The behavior was similar in all the Major Regions. Approximately one third (33.7%) of the population out of the workforce comprised of senior citizens (aged 60 years and over). Those aged under 25 years were 29.2% and the adults (between 25 and 59 years) were 37.2%.