The unemployment rate in the moving quarter ended in May 2016 was estimated at 11.2% for Brazil, staying above the rate of the same moving quarter ended in February (10.2%) and surpassing also that of the same quarter in the previous year (8.1%). The unemployed population (11.4 million persons) increased 10.3% (nearly 1.1 million persons) in relation to the quarter from December 2015 to February 2016 and increased 40.3% (3.3 million more persons) when compared with the same quarter in 2015. Theemployed population (90.8 million persons) remained stable when compared to the quarter from December 2015 to February 2016 (285 thousand less persons). When compared with the same quarter in 2015, the reduction was of 1.4% (1.2 million less persons). The number of workers with a formal labor contract in the private sector recorded a drop of 1.2% over the quarter from December 2015 to February 2016 (428 thousand less people). In the comparison with the same quarter a year ago, the decrease was of 4.2% (1.5 million less people). The average usual real earnings from all jobs (R$ 1,982) remained stable against the quarter from December 2015 to February 2016 (R$ 1,972) and fell 2.7% in relation to the same quarter last year (R$ 2,037). The usual real wage bill earned by employed persons from all jobs (R$ 175.6 billion) stayed stable over the quarter from December 2015 to February 2016, and presented a reduction of 3.3% over the same quarter a year ago. The complete publication of the Continuous PNAD can be accessed here.

The Continuous PNAD indicators are calculated for moving quarters, using information from the last three months of the survey. The quarterly moving average of May 2016 was calculated according to data collected in May/2016, April/2016 and May/2016. Additional information on the methodology can be found aqui.

In the quarter March to May 2016, there were about 11.4 million employed persons in Brazil. This estimate in the quarter December 2015-February 2016 corresponded to 10.4 million persons, representing an increase of 10.3%, or 1.0 persons more in this group. Versus the same quarter a year ago, this estimate increased 40.3%, with an increment of 3.3 million persons out of the workforce.

The number of persons with a formal contract employed in the private sector presented decrease in both periods of comparison. Versus the quarter December 2015-February 2016 there was decrease of 1.2%, and in comparison with the same quarter a year ago, of 4.2%. In this period there was decrease of approximately 1.5 million persons in this condition. The category of workers without a formal contract in the private sector increased by 3.5%, versus the quarter December 2015-February 2016, and was stable in relation to the same period a year before.

The number of domestic workers remained stable in relation to that of December 2015-February 2016 and rose 5.1% in comparison with the same period in the previous year (307 thousand persons more). The category of self-employed workers decreased by 1.3%, versus that of December 2015-February 2016 (minus 314 thousand persons). Versus the quarter March-May 2015, there was increase of 4.3%, which represented an increase of 952 thousand persons. The number of employers recorded stability in relation to the quarter December 2015-February 2016, and decrease of 5.2% in relation to the same period in the previous year, with minus 208 thousand persons.

In the analysis of the number of employed persons, by groups of activity, versus the quarter December 2015 to February 2016, there was decrease of 2.9% in Construction (-227 thousand persons) and of 1.7% in Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fishing and Aquiculture (-161 thousand persons). In Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services, however, there an increase of 1.8% (268 thousand persons). In the other groups of activity, there was no statistically-significant change.

The average usual real earnings from the activities of employed persons was estimated at R$ 1,982, recording stability versus the quarter December 2015 to February 2016 (R$ 1,972), and decrease of 2.7%, in relation to the same quarter in the previous year (R$ 2,037).

In comparison with the quarter December 2015 to February 2016, none of the groups of activity recorded statistically significant changes in their average yield. Versus the same quarter in the previous year, the groups recording decreases were: Other services (8.2%), Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fishing and Aquiculture (5.5%), and Trade, repair of motor vehicles and of motorcycles (3.9%).

In relation to the quarter December 2015 to February 2016, there was no change in earnings by employment type. Versus the quarter March to May 2015, only Self-employed workers faced decrease (3.0%) in the average real earnings. The other ones remained stable.

The usual real wage bill from all the activities of the employed persons was estimated at R$ 175.6 billion reais, having remained stable in comparison with figures of the quarter December 2015 to February 2016, and recording a 3.3% decrease versus the same month a year ago.