The unemployment rate (12.0%) in the September-October-November 2017 quarter retreated 0.6 percentage points in relation to the June-July-August quarter (12.6%). The rate remained stable when compared with the same quarter in 2016, when it had been estimated at 11.9%.

 The unemployed population (12.6 million) fell 4.1% (less 543 thousand persons) in relation to the previous quarter. It rose 3.6% (more 439 thousand persons) compared with the same quarter in 2016, when 12.1 million persons were unemployed.

The employed population (91.9 million) increased 1.0% over the previous quarter (more 887 thousand persons). It rose 1.9% (more 1.7 million persons) in relation to the same quarter a year ago (90.2 million employed persons). The increase in the occupation caused an increase in the employment-population ratio (54.4%), which rose in both comparisons.

The number of workers with a formal contract  (33.2 million) remained stable against the previous quarter (June-July-August 2017). It dropped -2.5% (less 857 thousand persons) when compared with the quarter between September and November 2016.

The number of workers without a formal contract (11.2 million persons) increased 3.8% over the previous quarter (more 411 thousand persons). It rose 6.9% (more 718 thousand persons) in relation to the same quarter in 2016.

The category of self-employed workers (23 million persons) remained stable when compared with the June-July-August quarter. It rose 5.0% (more 1.1 million persons) over the same period in 2016.

The average usual real earnings (R$2,142) in the September-October-November 2017 quarter remained stable against the previous quarter (R$2,122) and also in relation to the same quarter in 2016 (R$2,087).

The usual real wage bill (R$191.9 billion) in the quarter ended in November 2017 rose 2.0% (more R$3.7 billion) in relation to the quarter between June and August. It increased 4.5% (R$8.2 billion) over the same quarter in 2016. Access the complete information on the survey here.

The unemployment rate was estimated at 12.0% in the moving quarter between September and November 2017, representing a reduction of 0.6 percentage points in relation to the quarter from June to August 2017 (12.6%). The rate was stable when compared with the same moving quarter a year ago, September through November 2016 (11.9%).

About 12.6 million persons were unemployed in Brazil in the quarter between September and November 2017. This contingent fell 4,1% (less 543 thousand persons) against the quarter from June to August 2017, when unemployment was estimated at 13.1 million persons. Compared with the same quarter in 2016, when 12.1 million persons were unemployed, this estimate grew 3.6% (more 439 thousand unemployed persons in the workforce).

Unemployment Rate - Brazil - 2012/2017

The number of employed persons was estimated at about 91.9 million in the quarter between September and November 2017. This contingent grew 1.0% over the previous quarter (more 887 thousand persons). This indicator rose 1.9% in relation to the quarter from September to November 2016, when Brazil counted with 90.2 million employed persons.

The employment-population ratio – percentage of employed persons in the population at working age – was estimated at 54.4% in the quarter between September and November 2017, increasing 0.4 percentage points over the quarter from June to August 2017 (54.0%). It also increased 0.4 percentage points in relation to the same quarter last year, when the employment-population ratio had been 54.1%.

The contingent in the workforce – employed and unemployed persons – was estimated at 104.5 million persons in the quarter from September to November 2017 This population remained stable against the quarter between June and August 2017. An expansion of 2.1% (more 2.2 million persons) was recorded against the same quarter a year ago.

The number of persons out of the workforce was estimated at 64.4 million in the quarter from September to November 2017. This contingent remained stable when compared with the quarter between June and August 2017 and also with the same quarter a year ago.

Estimated at 33.2 million persons, the contingent of persons employed in the private sector with a formal contract (excluding domestic workers) remained stable against the previous quarter (June-August 2017). It dropped 2.5% (less 857 thousand persons) when compared with the quarter from September to November 2016.

Between September and November 2017, the number of persons employed in the private sector without a formal contract (11.2 million persons) increased 3.8% in relation to the previous quarter (more 411 thousand persons). It increased 6.9% (more 718 thousand persons) over the same quarter last year.

The contingent of self-employed workers (23 million) remained stable in the comparison with the previous quarter (June-August 2017). This figure rose 5.0% (more 1.1 million persons) in relation to the same period a year ago.

The number of employers (4.4 million persons) rose 4.6% over the previous quarter and grew 5.8% (more 243 thousand persons) in relation to the same quarter last year.

The number of domestic workers (6.3 million persons) increased 3.5% compared with the quarter from June to August 2017. It rose 4.1% (more 250 thousand persons) against the quarter between September and November 2016.

Estimated at 11.6 million persons, those employed in the public sector – including statutory servants and military – remained stable in the comparison with both quarters.

According to the groups of activity, the contingent of employed persons in the moving quarter between September and November 2017 over the quarter from June and August 2017 increased in Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (1.3% or more 223 thousand persons); Information, Communication and Financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (2.2% or more 219 thousand persons); Other services (2.8% or more 124 thousand persons) and Domestic services (3.5% or more 214 thousand persons). The other groups did not show any significant change.

Compared with the quarter between September and November 2016, the number of persons employed increased in Industry (3.4% or more 394 thousand persons); Housing and food (9.2% or more 439 thousand persons); Information, Communication and Financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (5.3% or more 512 thousand persons); Other services (5.6% or more 247 thousand persons) and Domestic services (3.8% or more 236 thousand persons). The group of Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquiculture (4.3% or less 380 thousand persons) was the only to decrease.

Average monthly real earnings, usually earned in the reference month,
from all jobs of employed persons - Brazil - 2012/2017 - (R$)

The average usual real earnings from all jobs of employed persons was estimated at R$2,142 in the September-November 2017 quarter, remaining stable against the June-August 2017 quarter (R$2,122) and in relation to the same quarter a year ago (R$2,087).

According to the groups of activity, average usual real earnings increased only in the category of Information, Communication and Financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (4% or more R$121) in relation to the quarter from June to August 2017. The other groups did not show any significant change. The category of Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquiculture (4.8% or more R$56) was the only one to increase over the quarter from September to November 2016. The other groups did not show any significant change.

The real wage bill usually earned from all jobs by employed persons was estimated at R$191.9 billion for the moving quarter between September and November 2017 and rose 2.0% (more R$3.7 billion) when compared with the moving quarter from June to August 2017. It increased 4.5% (more R$8.2 billion) against the same quarter a year ago.