The analysis showed significant differences in the unemployment rate among men and women. This phenomenon was also seen in the five Major Regions. In the 2nd quarter of 2015, the total rate of 8.3% was estimated at 7.1%, for men, and 9.8%, for women. The unemployment rate among the youngsters aged 18 to 24, 18.6%, registered a high level in relation to the total average rate (8.3%). This behavior was observed, both for Brazil and for the five Major Regions.

The unemployment rate for persons who had not finished high school (13.8%) was higher than that reported by other level of schooling groups. The rate for the group of persons who had not finished higher education was estimated at 9.7%, twice the rate reported by those with complete higher education (4.1%).

Employment-population ratio falls 0.7% in Q2 2015 over Q2 2014

The employment-population ratio (indicator that measures the share of the employed population in relation to the working-age population) in Brazil in the 2nd quarter of 2015, was estimated at 56.2%. This indicator was stable in relation to the previous quarter and registered decrease of 0.7 percentage points in comparison with the same quarter of 2014 (56.9%).

In the regional scenario, different employment-population ratios were recorded. The South (60.5%) and Central-West (60.4%) were the regions with the greatest percentages of employed persons in the working-age population. The Northeast Region recorded the lowest employment-population ratio (51.3%).

The analyses pointed out different employment-population ratios among men and women. In the 2nd quarter of 2015, the employment-population ratio in Brazil was estimated at 67.1% for men and at 46.2% for women. The different behavior of this indicator among men and women was detected in the five Major Regions, with a highlight for the North Region, which posted the highest difference (about 26.1 percentage points), and the South Region, which registered the lowest difference (about 19 percentage points).

In the 2nd quarter of 2015, the employment-population ratio of the group aged 25 to 39 was estimated at 74.9%, and at 69.5% for the group aged 40 to 59. It was estimated at 55,3% for youngsters aged 18 to 24. The estimate was 15.4% for underage persons (aged from 14 to 17), while it was 22.3% for senior citizens (aged 60 and over).

In general, the analyses pointed out that groups of persons with a higher level of education posted higher employment-population ratios. It should be highlighted that about 31.0% of the persons with no education were working in the 2nd quarter of 2015. The employment-population ratio reached 78.9% among those persons who had finished higher education.

Percentage of formally-hired employees remains unchanged in Q1 2015

In the 2nd quarter of 2015, 78.1% of the persons employed in the private sector had a formal labor contract, making it stable over the first quarter of 2014 (78.1%). In the comparison with the 2nd quarter of 2014, in relation to the same period of 2013, there was increase of 1.7 p.p., whereas, between 2013 to 2012, there was a 0.9 p.p. increase. Among domestic workers, the survey showed that 31.9% of them had a formal labor contract in the 2nd quarter of 2015. In the same quarter last year, they were 31.7%. Military and statutory civil servants accounted for 69.2% of the employed in the public sector.

The percentage of persons with a formal contract in the population employed in the private sector showed to different scenarios: in the North (64.9%) and Northeast (64.0%) there were significantly lower levels than in the other Major Regions. It is worth highlighting that the comparison between the 2nd quarter of 2015 and the same quarter of 2014 recorded the highest increase of this indicator in the Central-West Region, where it went from 77.3% to 78.5%, in this period.

Real average earnings stable in relation to Q2 2014

In the 2nd quarter of 2015, the usual real average earnings from all jobs of persons aged 14 or over, employed in the week of reference, with income from work, was estimated at R$ 1,882.00. This result was considered stable in both comparisons.

In the 2nd quarter of 2015, the usual real average wage bill from all jobs of persons aged 14 or over, employed in the week of reference, earning income from work, was estimated at R$ 167,905 million reais. It was considered a stable result over that of the previous quarter (R$ 168,398). In the comparison with the same quarter of 2014 (165,229), this estimate was also stable.

38.7% of persons out of workforce in Q2 2015

In the 2nd quarter of 2015, in Brazil, 38.7% of the persons at working age were classified as out of the workforce, that is, those who were neither employed nor unemployed in the week of reference of the survey.

The Northeast Region registered the highest share of persons out of the workforce (42.8%). The South (36.0%) and Central-West (34.8%) Regions recorded the lowest percentages. It is worth highlighting that this distribution has not changed significantly along the time series.

The population out of the workforce was made up of a majority of women. In Q2 2015, they represented 65.8%. In all the Regions the behavior was the quite similar. It should be noted that this picture did not significantly change along the time series available.

In Q2 2015, in Brazil, nearly 35.1% of the population out of the workforce was made up of elderly persons (persons aged 60 or over). Those aged below 25 added up to 28.8% and the adults, aged between 25 and 59, represented 36.1%.