It was the fifth consecutive decrease compared to the immediately previous month, not considering a seasonally adjusted series. In the month/month comparison (Feb 09/Feb 08), there was decrease of 4.2%, the most significant one since the beginning of the series (2001). The index was also negative considering the figure accumulated in the year (-3.4%). Industry reduced the hours paid in 0.4% compared to the immediately previous month (seasonally adjusted result), the fifth consecutive decrease in this comparison basis. The index reached -5.7%, compared to February/08, the lowest in the series (2001), and -4.7% accumulated in the year. Real payroll increased once more (1.9%) compared to the result in the previous month (seasonally adjusted figure), after four consecutive negative results. There were also increases of 1.9% in the monthly comparison and 1.2% accumulated in the year.

SALARIED EMPLOYED PERSONS

In February, industrial employment decreased 1.3% compared to the result in the immediately previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series. This was the fifth negative result, causing decrease of 5.2% compared to the level of October last year. The quarterly moving index between January and February (-1.5%) contributed to the decrease observed in the previous months: December (-0.9%) and January (-1.3%).

In relation to February 2008, the decrease of -4.2%, the third consecutive negative rate in this comparison, was the biggest decrease in the time series which started in 2001. The indicator accumulated in the first two months of the year was negative (-3.4%) and significantly below that of the last quarter last year (0.2%). The indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, on a downward trend since August (3.0%) last year reached 1.0% in February.

Compared to February 2008 (-4.2%), thirteen of the fourteen areas and thirteen of the eighteen subsectors faced reduction in the number of workers. São Paulo (-3.6%), Minas Gerais (-5.5%) and the North and Central West Region (-6.7%) accounted for the main negative contributions to the overall figure in the country. In the industry of São Paulo, most of the subsectors (13) had negative result, being the highlight metal products (-8.2%), rubber and plastic (-9.1%), machinery and equipment (-5.7%) and means of transportation (-5.4%). The latter, with decrease of 12.3% exerted the main negative impact on the result of Minas Gerais, whereas in the North and Central West Region, the highlights were wood (-23.1%) and electronic and communication material and equipment (-14.6%). On the other hand, only Pernambuco (0.8%) had increase of production, on this comparison basis.

In terms of subsectors, for the country, the main negative highlights in the overall average were apparel (-8.9%), footwear and leather articles (-9.6%) and wood (-14.8%). On the other hand were non-metallic minerals (1.5%), petroleum refining and alcohol production (4.6%) and editing and printing (0.7%), with the main negative contributions.

It is worth mentioning that, compared to the monthly employment indexes of September last year (2.1%) and last February (-4.2%), it is possible to observe that the most significant contributions to this decrease of 6.3 percentage points were: machinery and equipment (from 9.9% to -4.1%), means of transportation (from 8.2% to -4.7%) and electronic and communication material and equipment (from 10.0% to -2.9%). These are the subsectors in which reduction of productive activity was more significant in this period.

The indicator accumulated in the first two months of 2009 decreased 3.4%. The negative contributions to the overall rate came from thirteen subsectors and fourteen areas surveyed.

NUMBER OF HOURS PAID

The number of hours paid to industry workers, in February, decreased 0.4% in comparison with the figure in the immediately previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series. This was the fifth consecutive negative rate, having accumulated decrease of 5.7% since October last year. The quarterly moving average fell by 1.3% in February, a less significant reduction than observed in January (-1.7%).

Compared to the same month in the previous year, the number of hours paid fell 5.7%, the lowest figure in the time series which started in 2001. In the first two months of the year, the fall of 4.7% was significantly below the result of the fourth quarter of 2008 (-0.2%), both compared to the same period in the previous year. The indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, on a downward trend since September (2.7%), reached 0.6% in February, the lowest rate since March 2007 (0.6%).

In the monthly indicator, the number of hours paid to industry workers fell in fourteen areas and in eighteen subsectors surveyed. In terms of subsectors, the most significant decreases to the overall rate came from apparel (-10.3%), means of transportation (-9.2%) and footwear and leather articles (-11.6%). On the other hand, with positive contributions were non-metallic minerals (2.0%), petroleum refining and alcohol production (6.5%) and mining and quarrying industry (1.7%).

In the same comparison, the areas with the most significant impacts on the national result were: São Paulo (-5.4%), North and Central West Region (-8.0%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-8.1%). In São Paulo, there was reduction of the number of hours paid in thirteen activities, being the highlight metal products (-10.0%), rubber and plastic (-12.3%) and means of transportation (-8.1%).  In the North and Central West Regions, the main significant contributions came from wood  (-23.3%) and electronic material and communication equipment  (-19.5%); in the industry of Rio Grande do Sul, the most significant decreases came from  footwear and leather articles (-15.5%) and food products and beverages (-8.3%).

The decreases in fourteen areas and in thirteen subsectors accounted for the decrease of 4.7%, which occurred in the first two months of the year. The most significant negative impacts by area came from São Paulo (-4.2%), North and Central West Region (-7.3%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-6.3%). In the analysis by subsector, the main decreases of the number of hours paid came from apparel (-9.4%), footwear and leather articles (-11.1%) and means of transportation (-7.2%). On the other hand, the main positive contributions, among the subsectors, were those of petroleum refining and alcohol production (9.9%) and non-metallic minerals (2.2%).

The negative indicators of employment and the number of hours paid in February were directly influenced by factors related to the reduction of industrial activity, and which have affected mainly the subsectors which produce durable consumer goods, intermediate goods and capital goods.

REAL PAYROLL

In February, the real payroll of industry (seasonally adjusted results) increased once more (1.9%) compared to the immediately previous month, after four consecutive negative results, a period in which it accumulated decrease of 4.9%. The quarterly moving average index was practically stable (-0.1%) between January and February, after having significant decreases in the last two months: December (-1.1%) and January (-1.5%). 

Compared to February 2008, the real payroll of industry increased 1.9%. The increase accumulated in the first two months, 1.2% was below the index of the fourth quater of last year (4.3%). The indicator accumulated in the last 12 months (5.3%), has been on na upward trend since last September prosseguiu (6.7%).

In the comparison February 09/February 08, real payroll increased 1.9%, with salary increments in tem of the fourteen areas surveyed. The main opsitive contributions came from Minas Gerais (12.6%), Northeast Region (5.7%) and Espírito Santo (22.5%). In the three areas, the major impacto n the real payroll came from mining and quarrying industry, with respectively, 133.4%, 14.9% and 74.4%; these rates reflect  the payment of participation shares in the profit of important companies of this sector. On the other hand, São Paulo (-0.6%) accounted for the most significant negative contribution, in which the main highlight was electronic and communication machinery and equipment (-10.8%).

In the monthly analysis by subsector, real payroll increased in ten of the eighteen subsectors surveyed, being the highlights mining and quarrying industry (47.5%) and chemical products (3.0%), with the main positive contributions. On the other hand, the main significant decreases came from rubber and plastic (-8.0%) and electronic and communication machinery and equipment (-6.4%).

In terms of the indicator accumulated in the year (1.2%), there were positive results in eleven areas, especially Minas Gerais (4.8%) and Espírito Santo (17.8%). On the other hand, Rio Grande do Sul (-2.4%) and Paraná (-1.9%) accounted for the main negative contributions.

Ten subsectors had increase in the first two months of the year; the highlights in this year were the contributions of mining and quarrying industry (29.5%) and means of transportation (1.5%). On the other hand, the main significant contributions were those of electronic and communication machinery and equipment (-6.2%) and rubber and plastic (-6.0%).