In April 2012, the industrial employment recorded a negative change of -0.3% against the immediately previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series - the second consecutive negative result in this kind of comparison, accumulating a loss of 0.8% in this period of time. Still concerning the seasonally adjusted series, the quarterly moving average index presented a change of -0.2% between the quarters closed in March and April, keeping the predominantly negative behavior seen since October last year.  Against April 2011, the industrial employment recorded a drop of -1.4% in April 2012, the seventh negative result in a row in this kind of comparison and the most intense since December 2009 (-2,4%). The accumulated index in the first four months of 2012 pointed a downfall of 0.9% and intensified the falling pace contrasted to the one observed in the last four months of 2011 (-0.2%) - both comparisons made against the same period in the previous year.  The annual rate (index accumulated in the last 12 months), posting -0.1% in April 2012, recorded the first negative result since July 2010 and continued the downward trend started in February 2011 (3.9%). The complete publication can be accessed at

www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/industria/pimes/.

Comparing with the same month last year, the industrial employment receded 1.4% in April 2012, with the contingent of employees recording reduction in nine of the 14 places surveyed.  The main negative impact over the overall average was seen in São Paulo (-3.6%), followed by the Northeast Region (-2.5%), Ceará (-3.6%), Bahia (-3.7%) and Santa Catarina (-1.2%). On the other hand, Paraná (4.1%) and Minas Gerais (1.1%) marked the main positive contributions on the industrial employment in the country.

Among the sectors, considering the monthly index, the industrial employment receded in 13 of the 18 sectors surveyed. The highlights were the negative results from apparel (-7.9%), fabricated metal products (-5.6%), textiles (-6.2%), footwear and leather (-5.3%), paper and press (-3.6%), wood (-8.6%) and rubber and plastic (-3.4%). However, the main positive impacts on the industry overall were seen in the sectors of food and beverages (3.4%), machinery and equipment (3.0%), mining and quarrying industries (4.4%) and communication and electric-electronic machinery and apparatus (2.0%).

In the index accumulated in the first four months of the year, the industrial employment kept the falling movement (-0.9%), with negative rates in eight of the 14 places and in 11 of the 18 sectors surveyed. Among the places, São Paulo (-3.2%) marked the main negative impact in the industry overall, followed by the Northeast Region (-1.7%), Santa Catarina (-1.3%), Ceará (-3.3%) and Bahia (-2.5%). On the other hand, Paraná (4.0%), Minas Gerais (1.7%) and the North and Central-West Regions (0.8%) exerted the major positive influences. Among the sectors, the most relevant negative contributions to the industry overall came from apparel (-6.8%), fabricated metal products (-5.5%), footwear and leather (-6.6%), textiles (-5.3%), wood (-9.8%), rubber and plastic (-4.0%) and paper and press (-3.8%); whereas the sectors of food and beverages (4.1%), machinery and equipment (2.6%), mining and quarrying industry (4.6%), communication and electric-electronic machinery and apparatus (2.0%) and transportation means (1.3%) were responsible for the major positive impacts.

Number of hours paid is -0.8% lower than in March

In April of 2012, the number of hours paid to industrial workers, discounted the seasonal influences, retracted -0.8% against the immediately previous month, the second consecutive negative rate, accumulating in this period a loss of -2.0%.  As a result, in the seasonally adjusted series, the quarterly moving average index recorded a negative change of -0.2% in the quarter ended in April against the results of the previous month, after remaining stable in March (0.0%).

In the comparison with the same month a year ago, the number of hours paid marked, in April 2012 (-2.1%), the eighth consecutive negative rate in that type of comparison and the most substantial since November 2009 (-3.1%). The accumulated index in the first four months of the year (-1.4%) was also negative and pointed a downward trend slightly above the one seen in the last four months of 2011 (-1.3%) - both comparisons made against the same period in the previous year.  The annual rate (index accumulated in the last 12 months), recording a retraction of 0.8% in April 2012, kept the downward trend started in February of 2011 (4.5%).

In April 2012, the number of hours paid reduced 2.1% in relation to the same month in the previous year, with negative rates in twelve of the fourteen places and in fourteen of the eighteen sectors surveyed. Among the sectors, the main negative influences came from apparel (-8.0%), textiles (-7.1%), fabricated metal products (-4.8%), footwear and leather (-4.6%), rubber and plastic (-3.6%), paper and press (-3.7%) and basic metals (-5.3%). Conversely, the most relevant positive contribution on the industry overall came from machinery and equipment (2.3%), followed by food and beverages (0.8%) and mining and quarrying industries (3.9%).  Among the places, as compared to the same month a year ago, São Paulo (-4.5%) marked the main negative influence on the country’s overall, followed by the Northeast Region (-2.3%), Rio Grande do Sul (-2.0%) and Bahia (-3.8%). On the other hand, Minas Gerais (1.6%) and Paraná (1.9%) exerted the main negative contributions on the overall number of hours paid.

In the index accumulated in the first four months of 2012, there was a downfall of -1.4% in the number of hours paid, with 12 of the 18 sectors surveyed reporting negative rates. The major negative influences on the overall average of the industry came from apparel (-7.2%), fabricated metal products (-5.3%), footwear and leather (-6.4%), textiles (-5.7%), wood (-9.4%), rubber and plastic (-3.8%) and paper and press (-3.7%). Conversely, the most relevant positive contribution came from food and beverages (2.7%), followed by machinery and equipment (2.8%) and mining and quarrying industries (4.4%).  Concerning the regions, 11 of the 14 places presented negative rates, with a highlight to the contraction of 3.7% observed in São Paulo, followed by the losses in Santa Catarina (-2.2%), the Northeast Region (-1.0%), Bahia (-2.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-0.9%). However, Minas Gerais (2.0%), Paraná (1.8%) and Pernambuco (1.8%) posted the positive rates in the index accumulated in the first four months of 2012.

Real Payroll falls -0.5% in April

In April of 2012, the value of the industrial workers’ real payroll seasonally adjusted retracted -0.5% if compared to the immediately previous month, the second negative consecutive rate, accumulating a loss of -1.1% in this period. Still concerning the seasonally adjusted series, the quarterly moving average index posted a slight positive change (0.1%) between the quarters ended in March and April, with a clear reduction in the growing pace over the results of January (1.3%), February (1.5%) and March (1.8%).

Contrasting with the same month of the previous year, the real payroll rose by 4.2% in April 2012, the 28th consecutive positive result in this kind of comparison. The accumulated index in the first four months of 2012 pointed a rise of 4.5%, accelerating the  growing pace contrasted to the one observed in the last four months of 2011 (2.8%) - both comparisons made against the same period in the previous year.  The annual rate (index accumulated in the last 12 months), growing 3.8% in April 2012, kept the reduction in the growing pace begun in May 2011 (7.3%).

In the comparison with the same month of the previous year, the value of the real payroll recorded an expansion of 4.2% in April 2012, with positive results in the 14 places surveyed. The major influences on the national overall were seen in Minas Gerais (9.7%) and in Rio de Janeiro (13.0%).

Among the sectors, still in the monthly index of April 2012, the value of the payroll in the country’s overall grew in eleven of the eighteen sectors surveyed, with a highlight to machinery and equipment (9.4%), food and beverages (6.6%), means of transportation (6.2%), paper and press (11.6%) and mining and quarrying industries (10.5%).  Conversely, rubber and plastic (-3.2%), apparel (-3.6%), fabricated metal products (-1.9%) and footwear and leather (-3.8%) exerted the greatest negative impacts on the industry overall.

In the indicator accumulated in the first four months of 2012, the value of the real payroll rose by 4.5%, with positive rates in all places surveyed, with a highlight to Minas Gerais (9.2%) and Paraná (11.4%).  Among the sectors, considering the index accumulated in the year, the value of the real payroll advanced in 12 of the 18 activities surveyed, leveraged particularly by the gains coming from food and beverages (9.6%), mining and quarrying industries (16.0%) machinery and equipment (7.4%), transportation means (5.2%), non-metallic minerals (5.5%) and petroleum refinement and alcohol production (8.3%). On the other hand, footwear and leather (-4.6%), wood (-5.4%), apparel (-1.9%) and fabricated metal products (-1.1%) exerted the greatest negative influences on the industry overall.