Continuous PNAD: unemployment rate is 7.7% and labor underutilization rate is 17.6% in the quarter ended in September
October 31, 2023 09h00 AM | Last Updated: November 01, 2023 05h09 PM
The unemployment rate (7.7%) in the quarter ended in September 2023 fell -0.4 percentage points (pp) compared to the quarter from April to June 2023 (8.0%) and fell 1.0 pp compared to the same moving quarter of 2022 (8.7%). It was the lowest unemployment rate since the quarter ended in February 2015 (7.5%).
| Indicator/Period | Jul-Aug-Sept 2023 | Apr-May-Jun 2023 | Jul-Aug-Sept 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 7.7% | 8.0% | 8.7% |
| Labor underutilization rate | 17.6% | 17.8% | 20.1% |
| Usual real earnings | R$ 2,982 | R$ 2,933 | R$ 2,862 |
| Change in usual earnings in relation to: | 1.7% | 4.2% | |
The unemployed population (8.3 million persons) dropped by 3.8% (331 thousand less persons) in the quarter and by 12.1% (1.1 million less persons) in the year. That is the lowest figure since the moving quarter ended May 2015 (8.3 million).
The employed population (99.8 million) reached the highest figure since the beginning od the time series (Q1 2012), growing 0.9% in the quarter (929 thousand more persons) and 0.6% (569 thousand more persons) in the year. The employment-population ratio - percentage of employed persons in the population at working age - was estimated at 57.1%, having risen by 0.4 pp against the quarter April-June (56.6%), being stable in the year.
The composite underutilization rate (17.6%) was stable in the quarter (17.8%) and fell 2.5 pp compared with the same quarter of 2022 (20.1%). That was the lowest rate since the quarter ended December 2015 (17.4%). The underutilized population (20.1 million persons) was stable in the quarter and fell by 14.0% against the same period of 2022. That was the lowest number since the quarter ended in February 2016 (19,983 million persons).
The time-related underemployed population (5.3 million) stood stable in the quarter and decreased 14.0% (868 thousand) in the year.
The population out of the workforce (66.8 million persons) remained stable against the previous quarter and grew 3.2% (2.1 million more persons) against the same quarter of 2022.
The discouraged population (3.5 million persons) fell 4.6% over the previous quarter (168 thousand less persons) and 17.7% (755 thousand less persons) in the year. It was the lowest number since the quarter ended in September 2016 (3.5 million persons). The percentage of discouraged workers in the workforce or discouraged population (3.1%) dropped by 0.2 pp in the quarter and by 0.6 pp in the year. That was the lowest rate since the quarter ended July 2016 (3.1%).
The number of persons employed with a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers) reached 37.4 million persons, with an increase of 1.6% (587 thousand more persons) in the quarter and of 3.0% (1.1 million persons) in the year. That was the highest figure since January 2015 (37,5 million persons). The number of persons employed without a formal contract in the private sector (13.3 million) stood stable in the quarter and in the year.
The number of self-employed workers (25.5 million persons) was also stable compares to the previous quarter and to the same period a year ago, as well a the number of domestic workers (5.8 million persons).
Other categories that stood stable in both comparisons were those of employers (4.2 million persons) and workers in the public sector (12.2 million persons). The informality rate was 39.1% of the employed population (or 39.0 million informal workers) against 39.2% in the previous quarter and 39.4% in the same quarter of 2022.
Usual real earnings (R$2,982) increased 1.7% in the quarter and 4.2% in the year.
The usual real wage bill (R$293 billion) hit a new record figure in the time series, with an increase of 2.7% from the previous quarter and of 5.0% in the annual comparison.
Unemployment Rate - Brazil - 2012/2023
Estimated at 108.1 million persons in the moving quarter June-August 2023, the workforce (employed and unemployed persons) increased by 0.7% (725 thousand persons) from the quarter March-May and dropped by 0.6% (636 thousand) ain the year.
Among the activity groups, Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities increased (3.9% or more 408 thousand persons) against the moving quarter ended in February 2021. The remaining groups did not record significant changes.
From the quarter June-August 2022, the following groups recorded increases: Transportation, storage and mailing (4.0% or 207 thousand more persons), Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (5.2% or 608 thousand more persons) and Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (4.1% or 706 thousand more persons). The following groups recorded decreases: Agriculture, livestock, forestry, phishing and aquaculture (-3.9% or less 350 thousand persons) and Construction (-4.0% or less 281 thousand persons).
The average usual real earnings (R$2,982) against the previous moving quarter grew in the following groups: Industry (5.3% or R$ 146 more) and Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (1.7% or R$ 71 more). The remaining groups did not record significant changes.
The comparison with the quarter between July and September 2022 indicated an increase in the categories: Industry (6.3% or R$174 more), Lodging and food (12.3% or R$ 219 more) Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (4.2%, or R$ 169 more) and Domestic services (3.9% or R$ 43 more). The other groups remained stable.
Among employment type, in relation to the previous quarter, there were highs in the average usual real earnings of the following categories: Persons employed with a formal contract (1.9% or R$ 51 more), Persons employed in the public sector (including statutory officials and the military) (2.1% or R$ 93) more and Self employed workers (2.3% or R$ 54 more). The other categories did not record significant changes.
Compared to the same period a year ago, all types had increase: Employees with a formal contract (2.4% or R$ 64 more), Employees without a formal contract (7.0% or R$ 131 more), Domestic workers (3.9% or R$ 43 more), Employees in the public sector (including statutory officials and the military) (3.9% or R$ 168 more), Employers (7.8% or R$ 548 more) and Self-employed persons (7.2% or R$ 162 more).
