The unemployment rate for Brazil, in the 2nd quarter of 2014, was estimate at 6.8%. There was decrease in relation to the 1st quarter of 2014 (7.1%) and to the 2nd quarter of 2013 (7.4%). The employment-population ratio for the same period (56.9%) remained stable over the 1st quarter of the same year (56.7%) and over the 2nd quarter of 2013 (56.9%).

In Q2 of 2014, 78.1% of the employees in the private sector had a formal labor contract, an advance of 1.7 percentage points in relation to the 2nd quarter of 2013. The North (65.6%) and Northeast Regions (63.7%) had the lowest percentages in this indicator.

Continuous PNAD uses the new concepts recommended by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Further information on the survey can be found on www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/trabalhoerendimento/pnad_continua/.

In the regional analysis of unemployment, in Q2 2014, the Central West (61.5%) and the South Region (61.1%) were the ones presenting the biggest percentages of workers among persons at working age, whereas the Northeast Region presented the highest employment population ratio (51.9%). There were also significant differences in the unemployment rate among men and women.

In the comparison of the 2nd quarter of 2014 and the same quarter in 2013, it is possible to observe decrease in the unemployment rate in all the age groups, except 60 years of age and over. The unemployment rate of youngsters aged 18 to 24, 15.3% presented a high level in relation to the average total rate. This behavior was observed, both at national level and in terms of the five Major Regions surveyed.

North and Northeast had biggest percentages of self-employed

In the 2nd quarter, the employed population was formed by 70.2% of employees, 4.1% of employers, 22.9% of own-account workers and 2.9% of auxiliary family workers. Throughout the time series this composition did not change significantly. In the North (29.8%) and Northeast (29.4%), the percentage of own-account workers was higher than that of the other Regions. The same was observed for auxiliary family workers, the North (7.0%) and Northeast (4.5%) Regions recorded bigger participation of these two groups.

Southeast and South have biggest percentages of workers with a formal contract

In the 2nd quarter of 2014, 78.1% of the workers in the private sector had a formal employment contract, presenting increase of 2.6 percentage points in relation to Q2 2012. Among domestic workers, the survey showed that 31.7% had a formal employment contract; in the same quarter as in the previous year, they were 30.8%. Military and civil servants corresponded 69.0% of the workers in the public sector.

North (65.6%) and Northeast (63.7%) present smaller percentages of employees of the private sector with a formal employment contract than other Regions. The comparison of Q2 2014 with the same quarter a year before led to increase of this indicator in all the Major Regions, except in the Central West. The Northeast is a highlight, with increase of 3.5 percentage points in comparison with the 2nd quarter of 2012.

Employment population ratio among youngsters aged 5 to 17 fell from 9.8% in 2009 to 8.6% in 2011

In the regional analysis of unemployment, in Q2 2014, the Central West Region (61.5%) and the South Region (61.1%) were the ones presenting the biggest percentages of workers among persons at working age, whereas the Northeast Region presented the highest employment population ratio (51.9%). In relation to the 2nd quarter of the previous year, there was increase of employment in the Northeast. In the 2nd quarter of 2014, the employment population ratio was estimated at 68.4% for men and 46.4% for women. This difference was observed in all the Major Regions, but the North Region recorded the biggest gap, and the South, the smallest.

In the 2nd quarter of 2014, the employment population ratio in the age group 25 to 39 was estimated at 75.8%, and for the group aged 40 to 59, 69.4%. Among youngsters aged 18 to 24, the estimate was 57.5%. Among minors (aged 14 to 17), this estimate was 16.3%, whereas among elderly (60 years of age), 21.9%. The employment population ratioof youngsters aged 18 to 24 years of age in the South Region (67.1%) and Central West (61.5%) was close to that observed in the Northeast for adults aged 25 to 39 years of age (69.0%) and 40 to 59 years of age (65.0%).

The Northeast remains with the biggest percentage of persons aged out of the labor force (43.1%) and the Central West Regions (34.8%) and South (36.2%), the lowest. This configuration did not change significantly throughout the time series. Women were the majority in this population: about 66.5% in the 2nd quarter of 2014. In all the Regions there was similar behavior. About one third (34.0%) of persons out of labor force were elderly (aged 60 or over). Those aged 25 or over 29.2% and adults (25 to 29 years of age) made up 36.8%.

In general, in groups with higher level of schooling, the employment population ratio was higher. In the 2nd quarter of 2014, a little more than one third (32.6%) of the persons without any level of schooling were working. Among those with higher education, the employment population ratio reached 80.1%.

Northeast keeps biggest percentage of persons out of workforce

In the 2nd quarter of 2014, in Brazil, 38.9% of the persons at working age were classified as labor force, that is, those who were not employed or unemployed in the week of reference of the survey.