The unemployment rate (11.2%) retreated 0.9 percentage points in the moving quarter between November 2021 and January 2022 in relation to the quarter from August to October 2021 (12.1%) and 3.3 percentage points in relation to the same period a year ago. The unemployed population (12.0 million persons) retreated 6.6% (less 858 thousand persons) against the previous quarter (12.9 million persons) and 18.3% (less 2.7 million unemployed persons) in relation to the same period last year (14.7 million persons).

The contingent of employed persons was estimated at nearly 95.4 million persons, a rise of 1.6% (1.5 million persons) against the previous quarter and of 9.4% (8.2 million persons) against the same period in 2021. Estimated at 55.3%, the employment-population ratio - percentage of employed persons in the population at working age - grew 0.7 percentage points (p.p.) against the previous quarter (54.6%) and 4.3 p.p. over the same quarter in the previous year (51.1%).

The composite underutilization rate (23.9%) fell 1.9 percentage points in relation to the quarter from August to October (25.7%) and 5.1 percentage points in the comparison with the quarter ended in January 2021 (29.0%). The underutilized population (27.8 million persons) dropped 7.2% (less 2.2 million less persons) over the previous quarter (29.9 million) and 15.5% (less 5.1 million less persons) in the annual comparison (32.9 million).

The time-related underemployed population (6.9 million persons) reduced in relation to the previous quarter by -9.7% (less 741 thousand persons). This indicator remained stable in relation to the quarter ended in January 2021.

The population out of the workforce (64.9 million persons) remained stable when compared with the previous quarter and dropped (less 3.9 million persons) in the annual comparison.

The discouraged population (4.8 million persons) reduced 6.3% (less 322 thousand persons) over the previous quarter and 18.7% (less 1.1 million persons) in the annual comparison. The percentage of discouraged persons in the workforce or discouraged (4.2%) changed -0.3 percentage points over the previous quarter (4.5%) and -1.2 p.p. against the same quarter last year (5.4%).

The number of workers with a formal employment contract in the private sector (except domestic workers) was of 34.6 million persons, having increased 2.0% (681 thousand persons more) against the previous quarter and 9.3% (more 2.9 million persons) in the annual comparison.

The number of persons employed without a formal contract in the private sector (12.4 million persons) increased 3.6% (427 thousand persons) in relation to the previous quarter and 19.8% (2.0 million persons) in the year.

The number of self-employed workers (25.6 million) remained stable in relation to the previous quarter, yet it rose 10.3% (more 2.4 million persons) in the year.

The number of domestic workers (5.6 million persons) remained stable compared with the previous quarter, yet it rose 19.9% (more 931 thousand persons) in the year.

The number of employers (4.0 million persons) rose in relation to the previous quarter by 3.9% (149 thousand persons). The rate remained stable in relation to the same quarter a year ago.

The number of persons employed in the public sector (11.4 million persons) increased 1.9% over the previous quarter. It remained stable in relation to the same quarter in the previous year.

The informality rate was 40.4% of the employed population, or 38.5 million informal workers.  That rate had been 40.7% in the previous quarter and 39.2% in the same quarter of 2021.

Having registered R$2,489 in the quarter ended in January, the usual real earnings reduced 1.1% over the previous quarter and 9.7% over the same quarter in 2021. The usual real wage bill (R$232.6 billion) remained stable in both comparisons.

Unemployment Rate - Brazil - 2012/2022

Estimated at 107.5 million persons in the moving quarter from November 2021 to January 2022, the  workforce (employed and unemployed persons) increased by 612 thousand persons (0.6%) compared with the quarter between August and October 2021, and by 5.5 million persons (5.4%) against the same quarter last year.

The following activity groups rose against the previous moving quarter: Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (2.4% or more 436 thousand persons), Lodging and food (4.1% or more 206 thousand persons), Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (2.1% or more 239 thousand persons), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (1.8% or more 282 thousand persons) and Other services (6.8% or more 310 thousand persons). The other groups remained stable.

Employment increased in the following groups in relation to the quarter ended in January 2021: Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquaculture (4.0% or more 342 thousand persons), Overall industry (9.1% or more 1.0 million persons), Construction (13.0% or more 836 thousand persons), Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (11.8% or more 2.0 million persons), Transportation, storage and mailing (10.5% or more 463 thousand persons), Lodging and food (27.1% or more 1.1 million persons), Financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (6.7% or more 710 thousand persons), Other services (14.1% or more 606 thousand persons) and Domestic services (19.5% or more 925 thousand persons). The others remained stable.

Compound underutilization rate – Quarters from November to January – Brazil - 2012 to 2022 (%)

No category grew in terms of usual real average earnings against the previous moving quarter. The following groups recorded decreases: Industry (4.1% or less R$102) and Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (2.1% or less R$76).

No category grew in the comparison with the quarter from November 2020 to January 2021. The following groups recorded decreases: Industry (14.5% or less R$408), Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (6.0% or less R$130), Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (7.5% or less R$288), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (12.9% or less R$530) and Domestic services (3.1% or less R$30).

Considering employment status, against the previous moving quarter, no category recorded any increase. However, the category of those employed in the public sector (including statutory official and military) dropped 1.9% (less R$74). It dropped 11.6% (less R$514) in the annual comparison.