The unemployment rate for Brazil, in the 3rd quarter of 2014, was estimated at 6.8%. There was stability in relation to the 2nd quarter of 2014 (6.8%) and 3rd quarter of 2013 (6.9%). The employment-population ratio for the same period (56.8%) remained stable over the 2nd quarter of the same year (56.9%) and over the 3rd quarter of 2013 (57.1%).

In Q3 of 2014, 78.1% of the employees in the private sector had a formal labor contract, with an advance of 1.5 percentage points in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2013. The North (65.6%) and Northeast Regions (63.0%) posted the lowest percentage in this indicator.

The Continuous PNAD adopts the new concepts recommended by the International Labor Organization (ILO). Other information on the survey can be found on www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/trabalhoerendimento/pnad_continua/.

In the 3rd quarter of 2014, the Northeast Region presented the greatest unemployment rate, 8.6%, and the South Region, the lowest, 4.2%. In relation to the 3rd quarter of 2013, the rate of the Northeast Region fell 0.4 percentage points. The North Region stood out with reduction in the same period of 0.6 percentage points, from 7.5% to 6.9%, and for the first time in the series equaled the Southeast Region (6.9%). Significant differences among men (5.7%) and women (8.2%) were seen in the unemployment rate. 

The unemployment rate among the youngsters aged 18 to 24, 15.3%, registered a high level in relation to the total average rate (6.8%). This behavior was seen in all five Major Regions, where the rate oscillated between 10.2% in the South and 19.1% in the Northeast. In the groups of people aged 25 to 39 and 40 to 59, this indicator in the country was 6.4% and 3.4%, respectively.

North and Northeast record highest level of self-employed

In the 3rd quarter of 2014, the employed population comprised 69.8% of employees, 4.1% of employers, 23.3% of self-employed and 2.8% of contributing family workers. Over the time series, this distribution has not changed significantly. In the North (30.2%) and Northeast Regions (29.4%), the percentage of self-employed workers was above the one seen in the other Regions. The same happened to contributing family workers: 7.1% in the North Region and 4.3% in the Northeast Region (4.3%).

78.1% of workers in the private sector had formal labor contract

In Q3 of 2014, 78.1% of the workers in the private sector had a formal labor contract, advancing 2.7 percentage points in relation to the same quarter of 2012. Among domestic workers, the survey revealed that 32.0% had a formal labor contract. In the same quarter last year, this figure was 29.9%. Military and civil servants corresponded to 68.2% of the workers of the public sector.

The proportion of workers in the private sector with a formal labor contract increased in all Regions in the comparison with the same quarter of 2013. North (65.6%) and Northeast (63.0%) Regions recorded lower percentages than the other Regions. The comparison with the 3rd quarter of 2012 registered a greater increase in the Northeast Region, where the index moved from 59.2% to 63.0%.

Employment-population ratio: 68.3% for men and 46.3% for women

In the 3rd quarter of 2014, the Central-West (61.6%) and South Regions (61.1%) were the ones with the highest employment-population ratio (percentage of people working over the working-age population) and the Northeast Region, with the lowest (51.9%). The indicator was estimated at 68.3% for men and 46.3% for women. Such a difference among men and women was seen in the five Major Regions, with a highlight to the North - where the difference between men (71.0%) and women (43.1%) was the highest (27.9 percentage points) - and to the South, with the lowest difference (19.4 percentage points), 71.2% for men and 51.8% for women.

In the 3rd quarter of 2014, the employment-population ratio of the group aged 25 to 39 was estimated at 75.8%, and for the group aged 40 to 59, at 69.6%. Among youngsters aged 18 to 24, the estimate was 57.7%. Among minors (14 to 17) the estimate was 15.7%, whereas, for the elderly (60 and over), it was 21.9%. The differences by area are significant. The employment-population ratio of youngsters aged 18 to 24 in the South and Central-West Regions got close to the one seen for the adult population in the Northeast (25 to 59).

The Northeast Region registered the highest percentage of persons out of the workforce (43.2%), and the Central-West (34.9%) and the South Regions (36.2%), the lowest ones. This distribution has not changed significantly along the time series. Women prevailed in this population: 66.3% in the 3rd quarter of 2014. This behavior was similar in all regions. Nearly one third (34.4%) of the population out of the workforce was made up of elderly persons (persons aged 60 and over). Those aged below 25 represented 29.1% and the adults, aged 25 to 59, 36.5%.

In general, in the groups of a higher schooling level, the employment-population ratio was higher. In the 3rd quarter of 2014, nearly one third (31.9%) of people with no schooling were working. Whereas among those with a graduation, the employment-population ratio reached 79.7%.

Northeast Region keeps highest percentage of persons out of workforce

In the 3rd quarter of 2014, in Brazil, 39.1% of people at a working age were classified as out of the workforce, which means, people that were neither employed nor unemployed in the week of reference of the survey.