The Brazilian unemployment rate was 6.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, not significantly changing in relation to the previous quarter (6.4%) and retreating 1.2 p.p. over the same moving quarter in 2023 (7.4%).

Compared with the previous quarter, the unemployment rate declined in three Federation Units: Paraná (0.7 p.p.), Minas Gerais (0.7 p.p.) and Rio Grande do Sul (0.6 p.p.), remaining stable in the others. The highest unemployment rates were in Pernambuco (10.2%), Bahia (9.9%) and Federal District (9.1%) and the lowest ones, in Mato Grosso (2.5%), Santa Catarina (2.7%) and Rondônia (2.8%).

The unemployment rate by sex was 5.1% for men and 7.6% for women in the fourth quarter of 2024. The unemployment rate by color or race stood below the national average (6.2%) for white persons (4.9%) and above that for black (7.5%) and brown (7.0%) persons.

The unemployment rate for persons with incomplete secondary school education (10.3%) surpassed the rates for the other levels of schooling.

Among persons with incomplete higher education, the rate was 6.6%, twice as that observed for complete higher education (3.3%).

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the composite underutilization rate (percentage of unemployed persons, time related underemployed persons and those in the potential workforce in relation to the expanded workforce) was 15.2%. Piauí (31.7%) recorded the highest rate, followed by Bahia (28.8%) and Alagoas (26.6%). The lowest rates were those of Santa Catarina (4.8%), Mato Grosso (7.0%) and Rondônia (7.4%).

The percentage of discouraged persons (against the population in the workforce or discouraged population) was 2.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Maranhão (9.8%), Alagoas (9.4%) and Piauí (8.6%) registered the highest percentages, whereas the lowest one was in Santa Catarina (0.2%), followed by Espírito Santo, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul (four of them with 0.8%).

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the percentage of those employed with a formal contract was 73.4% of those employed in the private sector in Brazil. The highest percentages were in Santa Catarina (87.9%), São Paulo (81.2%) and Rio Grande do Sul (79.9%), whereas the lowest ones were in Piauí (50.9%), Maranhão (52.3%) and Pará (54.4%).

The percentage of the employed population in Brazil working for themselves was 25.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024. The highest percentages were in Rondônia (34.9%), Maranhão (32.0%) and Amazonas (31.6%) and the lowest ones, in Federal District (19.1%), Tocantins (20.2%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (21.3%).

The informality rate for Brazil was 38.6% of the employed population. The highest rates were in Pará (57.6%), Maranhão (56.8%) and Piauí (54.9%), whereas the lowest ones were in Santa Catarina (25.6%), Federal District (29.0%) and São Paulo (30.3%).

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Brazil had 1.4 million persons looking for a job for two years or more. This contingent retreated 24.1% against the same quarter of 2023, when 1.8 million persons were in this condition.

On the other hand, 1.5 million persons looked for a job for less than one month. That contingent declined 8.6% against the same quarter in 2023, when 1.6 million persons looked for a job for less than one month.

Unemployment rates retreated in three FUs over the previous quarter

Compared with the previous quarter, the unemployment rate declined in three Federation Units: Paraná (0.7 p.p.), Minas Gerais (0.7 p.p.) and Rio Grande do Sul (0.6 p.p.), remaining stable in the others. The highest unemployment rates were in Pernambuco (10.2%), Bahia (9.9%) and Federal District (9.1%) and the lowest ones, in Mato Grosso (2.5%), Santa Catarina (2.7%) and Rondônia (2.8%).

Unemployment rate of persons aged 14 and over, by Federation Unit,against the previous moving quarter (%) - Q4 2024

PI records the highest underutilization rate (31.7%) and SC, the lowest one (4.8%)

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the composite underutilization rate (percentage of unemployed persons, time related underemployed persons and those in the potential workforce in relation to the expanded workforce) was 15.2%. Piauí (31.7%) recorded the highest rate, followed by Bahia (28.8%) and Alagoas (26.6%). The lowest rates were those of Santa Catarina (4.8%), Mato Grosso (7.0%) and Rondônia (7.4%).

Taxa composta de subutilização da força de trabalho por UF (%) – 4° trimestre de 2024

RO has the highest proportion of self-employed workers (34.9%) and the Federal District, the lowest one (19.1%)

The percentage of the employed population in Brazil working for themselves was 25.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024. The highest percentages were in Rondônia (34.9%), Maranhão (32.0%) and Amazonas (31.6%) and the lowest ones, in Federal District (19.1%), Tocantins (20.2%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (21.3%).

Percentage of self-employed persons, by Federation Unit (%) - Q4 2024

Smallest percentage of workers with a formal contract is from Piauí (50.9%), and the biggest, from Santa Catarina (87.9%)

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the percentage of those employed with a formal contract was 73.4% of those employed in the private sector in Brazil. The highest percentages were in Santa Catarina (87.9%), São Paulo (81.2%) and Rio Grande do Sul (79.9%), whereas the lowest ones were in Piauí (50.9%), Maranhão (52.3%) and Pará (54.4%).

Percentage of persons WITH a formal contract among workers in the private sector, by FU (%) - Q4 2024

Average earnings remain stable in four regions over the previous quarter

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the real average monthly earnings from all jobs, usually received per month by persons aged 14 and over, employed in the week of reference, with income from work, was estimated at R$3.315. That result represented a growth both in relation to the immediately previous quarter (R$3,268) and also in relation to the same quarter in the previous year (R$3,178).

In the comparison between the third quarter and the fourth quarter of 2024, the South Region (R$3,704) was the only one to register a statistically-significant expansion of the earnings, whereas the others remained stable. In relation to the fourth quarter of 2023, the Northeast, Southeast and South regions expanded and the others remained stable.

The real average wage bill from all jobs, usually received per month by persons aged 14 and over, employed in the week of reference, with income from work, was estimated at R$339,451 million, increasing both in relation to the previous quarter (R$331,858 million) and the fourth quarter of 2023 (R$316,150 million).

PA (57.8%) has the highest informality rate and Santa Catarina, the lowest (25.6%)

The informality rate for Brazil was 38.6% of the employed population in the fourth quarter of 2024. The highest rates were in Pará (57.6%), Maranhão (56.8%) and Piauí (54.9%) and the lowest ones, in Santa Catarina (25.6%), Federal District (29.0%) and São Paulo (30.3%). In order to calculate the employed population’s informality rate the following populations are considered: worker in the private sector without a formal contract; domestic nworker without a formal contract; employer without a CNPJ number; self-employed worker without a CNPJ number; auxiliary family worker.

Informality rate of the employed population, by FU (%) - Q4 2024

Number of persons looking for a job for two years or more dropped 24.1% over 2023

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Brazil had 1.4 million persons looking for a job for two years or more. This contingent retreated 24.1% against the same quarter of 2023, when 1.8 million persons were in this condition.

On the other hand, 1.5 million persons looked for a job for less than one month. That contingent declined 8.6% against the same quarter in 2023, when 1.6 million persons looked for a job for less than one month.