The unemployment rate (6.2%) did not register any significant change against the previous quarter (6.4%) and dropped 1.2 p.p. over the same moving quarter in 2023 (7.4%).

The unemployed population (6.8 million) did not register any significant change in the quarter, dropping 15.6% (less 1.3 million persons) in the year.
The employed population (103.8 million persons) grew in both comparisons: 0.8% (more 789 thousand persons) in the quarter and 2.8% (more 2.8 million persons) in the year. The employment-population ratio - percentage of employed persons in the population at working age - was 58.7%, growing 0.3 p.p. in the quarter (58.4%) and 1.1 p.p. (57.6%) in the year.
The composite underutilization rate (15.2%) retreated in both comparisons: -0.4 p.p. in the quarter and -2.0 p.p. in the year. The underutilized population (17.8 million persons) was the smallest one since the moving quarter ended in May 2015 (17.7 million), retreating 2.3% (less 415 thousand) in the quarter and dropping 10.9% (less 2.2 million) in the year.
The time-related underemployed population (4.9 million persons) retreated 3.6% (less 184 thousand persons) in the quarter and dropped 9.0% (less 490 thousand persons) in the year. The population out of the workforce (66.2 million) did not change significantly in both comparisons.
The discouraged population (3.0 million persons) stood stable in the quarter and dropped 12.3% (less 425 thousand persons) in the year. The percentage of discouraged workers (2.7%) remained stable in the quarter and retreated 04 p.p. in the year.
The number of persons employed in the private sector (53.4 million) stood stable in the quarter and grew 3.8% (more 1.9 million persons) in the year. The number of persons employed with a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers) reached a record: 39.2 million persons, without any significant change in the quarter, rose 3.3% (more 1.3 million persons) in the year. The number of persons employed without a formal contract in the private sector (14.2 million) did not record any significant change in the quarter and grew 5.0% (more 682 thousand persons) in the year.
The number of workers in the public sector (12.8 million) remained stable in the quarter and grew 4.5% (more 549 thousand persons) in the year.
The number of self-employed workers (26.0 million) increased 2.5% (more 633 thousand persons) in the quarter and it remained stable in the year. The number of domestic workers (5.9 million) remained stable in both comparisons.
The informality rate was 38.6% of the employed population (or 40.0 million informal workers) against 38.8% (or 40.0 million) in the quarter ended in September and 39.1% (or 39.5 million) in the same quarter of 2023.
Usual real earnings from all jobs (R$3,315) rose 1.4% in the quarter and grew 4.3% in the year. The average usual real wage bill (R$339.5 billion) was a record, growing 2.3% (more R$7.5 billion) in the quarter and 7.4% (more R$23.3 billion) in the year.

Unemployment rate - Brazil -2012/2024

The workforce (employed and unemployed persons) reached 110.6 million persons in the quarter from October to December 2024, growing in both comparisons: 0.6% (more 611 thousand persons) over the quarter from July to September 2024 and 1.4% (more 1.6 million persons) over the same moving quarter in 2023.
The analysis of employment by group of activity against the quarter from July to September 2024 showed an increase in three groups: Construction (4.4% or more 333 thousand persons), Transportation, storage and mailing (5.0% or more 283 thousand persons) and Lodging and food (3.9% or more 214 thousand persons). The group of Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquaculture (2.4% or less 196 thousand persons) reduced. The other groups did not change significantly.
Seven groups grew against the quarter from October to December 2023: Overall Industry (3.2% or more 413 thousand persons), Construction (5.6% or more 414 thousand persons), Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (2.8% or more 543 thousand persons), Transportation, storage and mailing (5.2% or more 296 thousand persons), Lodging and food (4.2% or more 230 thousand persons), Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (3.7% or more 461 thousand persons) and Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (3.8% or more 690 thousand persons). The other groups did not change significantly.

Composite underutilization rate - Quarters from October to December - Brazil - 2012 to 2024 (%)

According to the groups of activity, real monthly average earnings usually received in the main job grew in two categories against the quarter from July to September 2024: Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (3.2% or more R$148) and Domestic services (2.0% or more R$24). The other groups did not change significantly.
Seven categories increased over the quarter from October to December 2023: Industry (3.6% or more R$113), Construction (5.7% or more R$137), Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (3.9% or more R$101), Transportation, storage and mailing (7.2% or more R$213), Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (5.3% or more R$238), Other services (6.4% or more R$154) and Domestic services (4.1% or more R$50). The other groups did not change significantly.
The analysis of the real monthly average earnings by employment type of the moving quarter from October to December 2024 over the quarter from July to September 2024 showed an increase in two categories: Domestic workers (2.0% or more R$24) and Persons employed in the public sector (including statutory servants and the military) (1.9% or more R$92). The other categories did not record significant changes.
The comparison with the quarter from October to December 2023 pointed out an increase in five categories: Persons employed with a formal contract (2.9% or more R$87), Persons employed without a formal contract (6.2% or more R$136), Domestic workers (4.1% or more R$50), Persons employed in the public sector (including statutory servants and the military) (3.0% or more R$145) and Self-employed workers (5.2% or more R$132).