The unemployment rate (12.2%) declined 0.6 percentage points in the moving quarter between August and October 2017 in relation to the May-July 2017 quarter (12.8%). It increased 0.4 percentage points compared with the same quarter in 2016 (11.8%).

The unemployed population (12.7 million) fell 4.4% against the previous quarter (less 586 thousand persons). It increased 5.8% (more 698 thousand persons) over the same period in 2016.

The employed population (91.5 million) rose 1.0% (more 868 thousand persons) in relation to the quarter between May and July 2017. It increased 1.8% (more 1.7 million persons) over the same quarter in 2016.

The number of persons employed with a formal contract (33.3 million persons) remained stable against the previous quarter. It dropped 2.2% (less 738 thousand persons) against the same quarter in 2016.

The contingent of self-employed workers (23.0 million) rose 1.4% compared with the previous quarter (more 326 thousand persons). It rose 5.6% (more 1.2 million persons) over the same period in 2016.

The average usual real earnings (R$2,127) remained stable in both comparisons. The usual real wage bill (R$189.8 billion) rose 1.4% compared with the previous quarter. It increased 4.2% over the same quarter in 2016. The complete information on the survey can be accessed here.

The unemployment rate was estimated at 12.2% in the moving quarter between August and October 2017, a reduction of 0.6 percentage points in relation to the quarter from May to July 2017 (12.8%). The comparison with the same moving quarter a year ago, August to October 2016, registered an increase (0.4 percentage points), as it had been estimated at 11.8%.

12.7 million persons were unemployed in Brazil in the August-October 2017 quarter. This contingent represented a drop of 4.4%, i. e., less 586 thousand persons, against the quarter from May to July 2017, when the unemployment was estimated at 13.3 million persons. Compared with the same quarter last year, when there were 12.0 million unemployed persons, this estimate rose 5.8%, resulting in an increase of 698 thousand unemployed persons in the workforce.

 Chart 1 - Unemployment Rate - Brazil - 2012/2017

The contingent of employed persons was estimated at 91.5 million persons in the August-October 2017 quarter, representing an increase of 1.0% (868 thousand persons) in relation to the May-July 2017 quarter. Compared with the same quarter in 2016, when 89.9 million persons were employed in Brazil, this indicator also recorded a positive change (1.8%).

The employment-population ratio – indicator that measures the percentage of employed persons in the population at working age – was estimated at 54.2% in the quarter from August to October 2017, registering an increase of 0.4 percentage points against the quarter from May to July 2017 (53.8%). This indicator did not record any statistically-significant change over the same quarter last year. 

The workforce – employed and unemployed persons – was estimated at 104.3 million persons in the August-October 2017 quarter. This population remained stable when compared with the quarter between May and July 2017. An expansion of 2.3% (more 2.4 million persons) was recorded against the same quarter a year ago.

The contingent out of the workforce in the quarter from August to October 2017 was estimated at 64.5 million persons and remained stable in both comparisons.

Estimated at 33.3 million persons, the number of persons employed in the private sector with a formal contract – excluding domestic workers – remained stable against the quarter between May and July 2017. It dropped 2.2% (less 738 thousand persons) against the same quarter in 2016.

The category of persons employed in the private sector without a formal contract (11.0 million persons) rose 2.4% in relation to the previous quarter (more 254 thousand persons). It increased 5.9% (more 615 thousand persons) over the same quarter in 2016.

The number of self-employed workers (23.0 million persons) increased 1.4% when compared with the May-July 2017 quarter (more 326 thousand persons). It rose 5.6% (more 1.2 million persons) over the same period in 2016.

The contingent of employers remained at 4.3 million persons, holding steady over the immediately previous quarter and over the same period last year.

The category of domestic workers (6.3 million persons) rose 2.9% compared with the quarter from May to July 2017. It remained stable against the quarter between August and October 2016.

Estimated at 11.5 million persons, those employed in the public sector – including statutory servants and military – remained stable in the comparison with both quarters.

The analysis of the contingent of employed persons, according to the activity groups, in the August-October 2017 quarter over the May-July 2017 quarter pointed out an increase in the following categories: Construction (2.5% or more 169 thousand persons), Information, Communication, and Financial, Real Estate, Professional and Administrative Activities (3.2% or more 311 thousand persons) and Domestic services (2.8% or more 173 thousand persons). The other groups did not report any statistically-significant change.

The following groups dropped in relation to the same quarter in 2016: Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fishing and Aquiculture (-4.7% or less 419 thousand persons). The following groups rose: Overall Industry (2.5% or more 290 thousand persons), Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (2.3% or more 392 thousand persons), Housing and Food (10.4% or more 494 thousand persons), Information, Communication and Financial, Real Estate, Professional and Administrative Activities (5.6% or more 540 thousand persons) and Other services (6.2% or more 269 thousand persons). The other groups did not post any statistically-significant change.

The average usual real earnings from all jobs of employed persons was estimated at R$2,127, remaining stable against the May-July 2017 quarter and in relation to the same quarter a year ago.

Chart 3 - Usual real earnings from all jobs - Brazil - 2012/2017 

In the comparison with the quarter from May to July 2017, the average usual real earnings did not register any statistically-significant change of average income in the activity groups. The activity group of Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquaculture recorded an increase in the average income of 5.7% over the August-October 2016 quarter, whereas the other groups did not report any statistically-significant change.

The usual real wage bill earnings from all jobs of employed persons was estimated at R$189.8 billion in the moving quarter between August and October 2017. It changed 1.4% (more R$2.6 billion) when compared with the moving quarter from May to July 2017. The increase was of 4.2% (more R$7.7 billion) against the same quarter last year.