The unemployment rate was 12.8% in the moving quarter of May to July 2017, with decrease of 0.8 percentage points in relation to the quarter from February to April 2017 (13.6%). In the comparison with the same moving quarter of the previous year (11.6%), there was a high of 1.2 percentage points.

The unemployed population (13.3 million persons) fell 5.1% (721 thousand less persons) in relation to the previous quarter and increased 12.5% (1.5 million more persons) when compared with the same quarter in 2016. The employed population (90.7 million persons) increased 1.6% in relation to the previous quarter (1.4 million more persons) and did not record any changes in relation to the same quarter of 2016.

The number of employed persons with a formal contract ( 33.3 million persons) remained stable against the previous quarter, but fell 2.9% in relation to the same quarter in the previous year (-1.0 million persons). Conversely, the number of employed persons without a formal contract (10.7 million persons) grew 4.6% in relation to the previous quarter (468 thousand more persons) and 5.6% against the same quarter of 2016 (566 thousand more persons). The contingent of self-employed workers (22.6 million persons) increased 1.6% in the quarterly comparison (351 thousand more persons) and in the annual rate there was stability.

The average usual real earnings (R$2,106) held steady over the previous quarter (R$2,111) and also in relation to the same quarter a year ago (R$2,045). The average usual real earnings (R$186.1 billion) grew 1.3% against the previous quarter and remained stable in relation to the same quarter of 2016. See the complete survey here.

In the quarter from May to July 2017, there were nearly 13.3 million unemployed persons in Brazil.  This contingent presented a decrease of 5.1% (721 thousand less persons), against the quarter from February to April 2017, when unemployment was estimated at 14.0 million persons. Compared with the same quarter last year, when there were 11.8 million unemployed persons, this estimate rose 12.5%, resulting in an increase of 1.5 million unemployed persons in the labor market.

The number of employed persons was estimated at nearly 90.7 million in the quarter of May to July 2017. That estimate recorded a rise of 1.6% in relation to the previous quarter (1.4 million more persons). In relation to the same quarter of the previous year, when there was in Brazil 90.5 million employed persons, this indicator did not present a significant change.

The employment-population ratio (indicator that measures the percentage of employed persons in the population at working age) was estimated at 53.8% in the quarter of May to July 2017, registering an increase of 0.6 percentage points against the quarter from February to April 2017 (53.2%). In relation to the same quarter a year ago (54.4%) this indicator presented a retraction of 0.5 percentage points.

In labor force, (employed and unemployed persons) in the quarter of May to July 2017, the estimate was of 104.0 million persons. This population registered a rise of 0.7% (718 thousand more persons) when compared to the quarter of February to April 2017. Over the same quarter a year ago, there was expansion of 1.6% (increase of 1.7 million persons).

The population out of the labor force, in the quarter of May to July 2017, was estimated at 64.4 million persons, presenting stability both in the monthly and annual comparison.

The employed persons in the private sector with a formal contract (excluding domestic workers) were estimated at 33.3 million persons, remaining stable against the previous quarter. In the comparison with the quarter of May to July of 2016, there was a drop of 2.9% (-1.0 million persons).

The category of the employed persons in the private sector without a formal contract, estimated at 10.7 million persons, recorded a rise of 4.6% in relation to the previous quarter (an increase of 468 thousand persons). Over the same quarter a year ago, there was a 5.6% increase (and additional of 566 thousand persons).

The self-employed workers were estimated at 22.6 million persons, a rise of 1.6% in the comparison with the previous quarter (an increase of 351 thousand persons). In relation to the same period a year ago, the indicator did not record significant changes.

The number of employers was 4.2 million persons, holding steady over the previous quarter. In relation to the same period a year ago, the number recorded a rise of 10.8% (412 thousand more persons).

The category of domestic workers, estimated at 6.1 million persons, kept statistically stable in both comparative quarters.

According to the groups of activities, the contingent of employed persons of the quarter between May and July 2017 in relation to the previous quarter showed increase in the following categories: General industry (3.7% or more 425 thousand persons), Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (1.3%, or 226 thousand more persons), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (3.9% or 592 thousand more persons) and Other services (4.1% or 175 more persons). In the other groups there were not statistically significant changes. 

In the comparison with the quarter from May to July 2016, there was reduction in the following groups: Construction (-8.5% or -623 thousand persons) and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Aquaculture (-8.0% or -749 thousand persons). There was increase in the following groups: Lodging and Food (15.2% or + 683 thousand persons) and Other services (7.3% or + 304 thousand persons). In the other areas there were not significant changes.

The average usual real earnings from all jobs of the employed persons was estimated at R$2,106 in the quarter of May to July 2017, remaining stable against the February-April quarter of 2017 (R$2,111) and also against the same quarter of the previous year (R$2,045).

The average usual real wage bill earned from all jobs by employed persons in the moving quarter from May to July 2017 was of R$186.1 billion. Compared to the moving quarter of February to April 2017, the wage bill increased 1.3%, standing stable over the same quarter a year ago.