In August, industrial employment fell by 0.1% over July, considering the seasonally adjusted series. The other indicators remained positive: 0.3% for the monthly indicator (August 2005 over August 2004); 1.9% accumulated in the year and 2.6% accumulated in the last twelve months. The quarterly moving average indicator continues on downward trend, with the level of employment in the quarter ended in August 0.2% lower than that registered in July.

Concerning the monthly indicator, the number workers in industry maintained a sequence of eighteen months with positive rates, reaching the lowest level since April 2004 (0.1%). In August, the result of 0.3% was explained, to a great extent, by the increase observed in six of the fourteen areas and nine of the eighteen subsectors surveyed. The subsectors which most positively contributed to the overall national average were food products and beverages (8.1%), means of transportation (7.3%) and metal products (8.5%). Food products and beverages was the major positive pressure over industrial employment in São Paulo (2.6%), Minas Gerais (3.4%) and North and Central-West regions (3.8%). These were the states with the biggest participation in terms of number of workers.

Still referring to the monthly comparison, among the places which had reduction of the number of jobs, Rio Grande do Sul (-8.5%) and the Northeast region (-1.9%) were the ones with most significant negative contributions. All over the country, by subsector, footwear and leather articles (-16.1%) and wood (-13.8%), were the main subsectors accounting for the overall rate.

Hirings outnumber dismissals in ten of eleven activities

In the period Jan-Aug (1.9%), hirings outnumbered dismissals in ten localities and eleven subsectors. Concerning the localities, featured among the main positive influences on the overall rate are: São Paulo (3.0%), Minas Gerais (4.3%) and North region and Central-West (4.6%); concerning the subsectors, food products and beverages (7.4%) and means of transportation (11.0%). The most significant negative impacts on the overall rate came from Rio Grande do Sul (-5.0%) and Rio de Janeiro (-1.2%) in terms of localities, and from footwear and leather articles (-10.5%) and wood (-5.8%), in terms of subsectors. The annual rate (indicator accumulated in the last twelve months) faced a downward trend between July (2.8%) and August (2.6%).

Number of hours paid grew by 0.3% from July to August

The indicator of number of hours paid to workers in August, had positive change (0.3%) in relation to July in the series without seasonal adjustment, after two months with negative results, when it had accumulated change of 1.4%. Consequently, the quarterly moving average decreased by 0.4% among the quarters ended in August and July, accompanied by the downward trend of employment.

In relation to the number of hours paid, the remaining indicators increased. In the comparison August 2005/August 2004, the rate was 0.5%; the index accumulated expanded 1.5% in the year and 2.3% in the last twelve months. Concerning the average number of working hours, the monthly indicator had positive change (0.2%), whereas the comparisons for longer periods, accumulated in the year and in the last twelve months, changed negatively, –0.4 % and 0.3%, respectively.

The result August 2005/August 2004 was determined, above all, by the positive performances of five localities (among fourteen) and seven of eighteen subsectors surveyed. In the analysis by subsector, the major negative influences came from food products and beverages (8.8%), means of transportation (9.1%) and metal products (9.0%). On the other hand, the most relevant negative impacts were footwear and leather articles (-15.2%) and wood (-13.6%).

Still in the comparison August 2005/August 2004, the localities which accounted for the biggest impacts on the national results were: São Paulo (2.9%), Minas Gerais (4.0%) and the North and Central-West regions (3.3%0. In the São Paulo industry, nine of the eighteen subsectors surveyed increased the number of hour paid, especially food products and beverages (12.7%), means of transportation (11.0%) and metal products (12.2%). In Minas Gerais, the industries of metal products (33.1%) and food products and beverages (9.5%) were the most significant positive influences. In the North and Central-West regions, the most relevant increases was food products and beverages (15.4%). The main negative rate occurred in Rio Grande do Sul (-8.3%), where the subsector of footwear and leather articles (-22%0 is still facing a downward trend.

The index accumulated in the period Jan-Aug increased by 1.5% concerning the number of hours paid by industry. The positive performances of ten localities and nine subsectors contributed to this result. The localities responsible for the most significant negative influences were: São Paulo (2.4%), Minas Gerais (5.%) and the Northeast and Central-West regions (4.2%). On the other hand, Rio Grande do Sul (-6.1%) and Rio de Janeiro (-2.0%) were the most relevant negative contributions. By subsector, the main increases in the overall national results came from food products and beverages (7.8%), means of transportation (10.6%) and metal products (6.7%). The negative contributions came from footwear and leather articles (-11.0%) and wood (-6.5%).

The index accumulated in the last twelve months, despite the increase of 2.3% in August, has kept the downward trend started in June (2.7%).

In August, real average payroll grew by 2.2% over July

Real average payroll grew by 2.2% from July to August, considering the seasonally adjusted series. This expansion occurred after two months of negative results, when it accumulated a decrease of 2.5%. This way, the quarterly moving average remained stable (-0.1%) in the quarters ended in July and August.

Positive rates in other types of comparison were also observed: 5.3% in relation to August 2004, increase of 4.1% accumulated in the first months of the year and of 6.0% in the last twelve months. In relation to the real average payroll, the results were also positive: 5.0% for the monthly indicator, 2.1% accumulated in the year and 3.3% accumulated in the last twelve months.

In relation to August 2004, the real average payroll grew by 5.3%, with expansion in all the localities surveyed. São Paulo (5.3%) was the highlight as the main positive impact on the overall index. This performance is due, mainly, to the industries of food products and beverages (15.6%), machines and equipment (9.6%) and means of transportation (6.6%). By subsector, the increase of the monthly indicator can be explained, above all, by the growth observed in twelve of the eighteen surveyed. The major positive contributions came from food products and beverages (15.1%), machines and equipment (8.7%) and means of transportation (7.5%). On the other hand, the most significant negative impacts were footwear and leather articles (-12.2%) and wood (-9.0%).

The indicator accumulated in the year grew by 4.1% in terms of real payroll, with a predominance of positive results – thirteen – for the eighteen subsectors surveyed. The main highlights, regarding contribution to the formation of the overall rate, were means of transportation (10.3%) and food products and beverages (10.0%). The most relevant negative impacts were paper and graphics (-6.8%), non-metallic minerals (-5.5%) and footwear and leather articles (-7.1%). By locality, among the fourteen subsectors surveyed, twelve expanded, especially São Paulo (3.7%) and Minas Gerais (10.3%). The subsectors which mostly affected the results in these localities were, respectively, means of transportation (10.7%) and food products and beverages (17.3%); metal products (63.9%) and metallurgy (7.8%). On the other hand, Pernambuco (-1.1%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-0.1%) feature as the only negative results, especially due to the decrease observed in food products and beverages (-7.0%) and footwear and leather articles (-14.1%), respectively. Finally, the increase of indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, in terms of the real payroll, showed deceleration between July (6.4%) and August (6.0%), as started in January. This behavior can be observed in twelve of the fourteen and in twelve of the eighteen subsectors surveyed.