In October, after five months of expansion, industrial employment recorded a recoil of (-0.2%) compared to September, in the series free of seasonal influences. The other indicators were positive: compared to October 2003, there was a growth of 4.2%; the cumulative index of the year came to 1.4% and the indicator for the last 12 months came to 0.9%. According to the quarterly moving average index (graph below), the small negative change of 0.2%, recorded between September and October, does not change the positive results seen in industrial jobs. This indicator finds itself in the highest level since the beginning of the time series, which began in March 2001.

In the comparison between October 04 and October 03, the industrial employment index (4.2%) kept a sequence of eight consecutive positive rates. Job openings exceeded layoffs in 12 of the 14 places surveyed, with the number of workers rising especially in São Paulo (4.7%) and Minas Gerais (6.6%). In São Paulo's industry, the sectors of machinery and equipment (24.1%) and food and beverages (11.7%) accounted for the biggest positive contributions among the twelve segments in which the number of employed persons grew. Among the 14 sectors which raised the total of industrial workers in Minas Gerais' industry, the highlights were communication and electric-electronic machinery and apparatus (26.2%) and fabricated metal products (18.4%). On the other hand, the only negative pressures in the overall index came from Rio de Janeiro's (-1.4%) and Rio Grande do Sul’s industry (-0.4%), especially because of the impact of the sectors of food and beverages (-16.2%) and of footwear and leather (-6.5%), respectively.

At national level, 12 activities expanded the number of employed persons. The main contributions came from food and beverages (5.5%), machinery and equipment (14.2%) and means of transportation (13.7%), and the main negative impacts came from: fabricated metal products (-4.2%) and wearing apparel (-1.7%).

In the cumulative index of the year, there was a 1.4% growth, and ten areas showing an increase in the total of employed persons. Minas Gerais (4.3%) and São Paulo (0.9%) accounted for the main positive pressures. Besides Minas Gerais' industry, the North and the Central-West Regions (4.2%) and Paraná (3.5%) had higher rates. On the other hand, Rio de Janeiro (-3.2%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-0.2%) were the negative highlights. Among the sectors, 12 presented positive rates. Machinery and equipment (13.7%), food and beverages (3.0%) and means of transportation (6.4%) recorded the major impacts on the national average. Among the industrial sectors, the main negative influences were: wearing apparel (-9.5%), fabricated metal products and paper and press, both with a -5.2% rate.

The annual rate, cumulative index of the last twelve months (0.9%), remains in an upward trend of the industrial employment, a continuous trend since April but faster in the last two months.

NUMBER OF HOURS PAID

In October, the number of hours paid to workers of the industry recoiled 1.3% in comparison to September, in the series free of seasonal effects. Other indicators present growth: 2.8% in comparison to October 2003; 1.6% in the cumulative index of the year and 1.0% in the last twelve months. The average working hours showed a downward trend (-1.3%) in the monthly index. However, the remaining index recorded slight increases: 0.2% in the cumulative index of the year and 0.1% in the last twelve months. The decrease seen in the monthly index can be attributed to a smaller number of working days in October 2004 (20 days) compared to the same month of 2003 (23 days).

With the increase of 0.3% in the number of hours paid between the quarters that ended in October and September, the quarterly moving average continues in the upward trend initiated in July 2004.

In comparison to October 2003, the hours paid in the industry grew 2.8%. The positive performance came from 12 of the 14 places and 12 of the 18 branches surveyed. The main positive contribution came from machinery and equipment (12.6%), transportation means (11.4%) and food products and beverages (2.3%). The biggest losses were concentrated in wearing apparel (-3.6%), fabricated metal products (-2.5%) and other products of the manufacturing industry (-2.2%).

According to the monthly indicator, the places responsible for the most significant influences in the national result were São Paulo (1.9%), Minas Gerais (6.7%), the Northeast Region (4.7%) and the North and Central-West Regions (6.9%). On the other hand, the biggest negative impact on the number of hours paid came from Rio de Janeiro (-3.1%). In São Paulo’s industry, the segments of machinery and equipment (21.3%), means of transportation (10.5%) and communication and electric-electronic machinery and apparatus (7.3%) were the positive highlights. In the Minas Gerais' industry, the main positive highlights came from basic metals (12.5%), rubber and plastic products (35.6%), communication and electric-electronic machinery and apparatus (22.4%). In the Northeast Region, the highlight went to the industry of footwear and leather (11.6%) and in the North and Central-West, food and beverages (12.8%) were responsible for the growth in the index of hours paid.

In the cumulative index of January-October, there was an increase of 1.6% in the number of hours paid by the industry; it is a reflex of the positive results in the 12 segments and in the 12 places that were surveyed. Among the places, the main positive influences came from Minas Gerais (5.3%), São Paulo (1.1%) and the North and Central-West Regions (3.9%). The only areas with negative rates were: Rio de Janeiro (-4.5%) and Espirito Santo (-1.0%). The sectors responsible for the major increases at national level were machinery and equipment (14.7%), means of transportation (8.3%) and basic metals (10.3%). Conversely, the main negative impacts were from wearing apparel (-9.3%) and fabricated metal products (-4.3%).

PAYROLL

In October, the industrial employees' payroll, in the seasonally-adjusted series, drew back 0.9% in comparison with September, reverting the growth recorded between August and September. According to other indicators, the industrial employees' payroll recorded an increase: 9.8% in comparison with October of last year; 9.3% in the cumulative index of the year and 7.6% in the cumulative index of the last 12 months.

The quarterly moving average index presented a retraction of 0.2% between the quarters closed in September and October. Despite the slight decrease, this index shows a virtually stable picture since June.

In the comparison with October 2003, the real payroll recorded an increase of 9.8%, a consequence of the positive result in the 14 places surveyed. The main contribution for the construction of this rate came from São Paulo (11.5%), Minas Gerais (12.5%) and Rio de Janeiro (12.1%). São Paulo's great performance was determined, above all, by the means of transportation (42.7%), followed by machinery and equipment (33.5%). In Minas Gerais, fabricated metal products (73.1%) and basic metals (15.4%) were the main contributors, while in Rio de Janeiro, the major contributions came from chemical products (28.6%) and mining and quarrying industries (23.0%). The North and Central-West Regions also showed relevant contribution to the real income (11.4%), because of food and beverages (17.2%) and communication and electric-electronic machinery and apparatus (27.3%). Also worth mentioning is the growth presented in the payroll by Santa Catarina (8,0%), which showed an increase in machinery and equipment (16.1%) and wearing apparel (13.1%); and in Paraná (7.5%), with highlights in machinery and equipment (26.2%) and food products and beverages  (10.8%).

As to the sectors, in the same comparison, there was real increase in the payroll of fifteen of the eighteen industrial sectors surveyed. The main positive influences were observed in means of transportation (33.8%) and machinery and equipment (24.0%).  Conversely, paper and press (-4.4%), and fabricated metal products (-0.4%) exerted the main negative pressures.

The cumulative index in the year recorded a growth of 9.3% in the real value of the payroll, with an increase in all surveyed places. The major positive impact came from São Paulo (9.9%) and Minas Gerais (12.1%), with a highlight to machinery and equipment (49.9%) and basic metals (17.7%), respectively. Still in the analysis by sector there was an increase in the payroll in fifteen out of the eighteen activities. The main positive contributions came from machinery and equipment (31.4%), means of transportation (12.5%), while the biggest losses were seen in fabricated metal products (-4.3%) and textiles (-2.4%).

Concerning the real average payroll, there was a growth in the three major indicators: the monthly index (5.4%), the cumulative index of the year (7.8%) and in the cumulative index of the last twelve months (6.8%). The cumulative index presented an increase in fifteen of the eighteen surveyed sectors in every Region. In Regional terms, the rates ranged from the 12.3% recorded in Rio de Janeiro to the 4.6% recorded in Pernanbuco.