The unemployment rate was 11.1% in Brazil in the first quarter of 2022, remaining stable in relation to the fourth quarter of 2021 (11.1%) and dropping 3.8 p.p. against the same quarter in 2021 (14.9%). The unemployment rate remained stable in 26 Federation Units against the previous quarter. The only drop was in Amapá (-3.3 p.p.). The highest unemployment rates were registered in Bahia (17.6%),  Pernambuco (17.0%) and Rio de Janeiro (14.9%), and the lowest ones were recorded in Santa Catarina (4.5%), Mato Grosso (5.3%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (6.5%).

The unemployment rate by sex was 9.1% for men and 13.7% for women in the first quarter of 2022. The unemployment rate by color or race stayed below the national average for white persons (8.9%) and above that for black (13.3%) and brown (12.9%) persons.

The unemployment rate for persons with incomplete secondary education (18.3%) exceeded the rates of other levels of schooling.  Among persons with incomplete higher education, the rate was 11.9%, more than twice as that observed for complete higher education (5.6%).

In the first quarter of 2022, the composite underutilization rate of the workforce (percentage of unemployed persons, time-related underemployed persons and in the potential workforce in relation to the extended workforce) was 23.2%. Piauí (43.9%) reported the highest rate, followed by Sergipe and Alagoas, both with 38.6%. The lowest rates were reported in Santa Catarina (8.3%), Mato Grosso (11.3%) and Paraná (14.0%).

The number of discouraged persons was 4.6 million persons in the first quarter of 2022. The biggest number was that of Bahia (648 thousand discouraged persons, or 14.1% of the national contingent).  The percentage of discouraged persons (against the population in the workforce or discouraged) was 4.1% in the first quarter of 2022. Maranhão (15.8%) and Alagoas (15.4%) registered the highest percentages, whereas Santa Catarina (0.6%), Mato Grosso (1.2%) and the Federal District (1.4%) recorded the lowest ones

The percentage of workers with a formal contract was 74.1% of those employed in the private sector.  The highest percentages were reported in Santa Catarina (88.2%), São Paulo (82.4%) and Rio Grande do Sul (81.1%), and the lowest ones, in Maranhão (47.3%), Pará (51.3%) and Piauí (51.4%).

The percentage of the employed population in Brazil working for themselves was 26.5%. The highest percentages were registered in Amapá (35.9%), Amazonas (35.7%) and Pará (34.6%), whereas the lowest ones were recorded in the Federal District (19.4%), Mato Grosso do Sul (22.3%) and São Paulo (23.6%).

The informality rate in Brazil was 40.1% of the employed population.  The highest rates were in Pará (62.9%), Maranhão (59.7%) and Amazonas (58.1%), and the lowest ones, in Santa Catarina (27.7%), the Federal District (30.3%) and São Paulo (30.5%).

The usual monthly real average earnings were estimated at R$2,548, an increase of 1.5% in relation to the fourth quarter of 2021 (R$2,510) and a reduction of 8.7% against the first quarter of 2021 (R$2,789). Compared with the fourth quarter of 2021, only the North (R$1,985) and Southeast (R$2,875) regions expanded significantly. In relation to the first quarter of 2021, the North Region remained stable and the other regions registered a drop in the average earnings.

Unemployment rate retreats only in Amapá in Q1 2022

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2021, the unemployment rate dropped only in Amapá (3.3 p.p.), remaining stable in the other Federation Units. Compared with the first quarter of 2021,
the sharpest drops were reported in Tocantins (-7.8 p.p.), Alagoas (-6.1 p.p.) and
Sergipe (-5.7 p.p.).

Unemployment rate, by Federation Unit, against the previous quarter (%) - Q1 2022

Piauí records the highest underutilization rate (43.9%) and SC, the lowest (8.3%)

In the first quarter of 2022, the composite underutilization rate of the workforce (percentage of unemployed persons, time-related underemployed persons and in the potential workforce in relation to the extended workforce) was 23.2%. Piauí (43.9%) reported the highest rate, followed by Sergipe and Alagoas, both with 38.6%. The lowest rates were reported in Santa Catarina (8.3%), Mato Grosso (11.3%) and Paraná (14.0%).

Composite underutilization rate of the workforce by FU (%) - Q1 2022

Amapá has biggest proportion of self-employed workers (35.9%) and Federal District, the smallest (19.4%)

The percentage of the employed population in Brazil working for themselves was 26.5%. The North (33.4%) and Northeast (29.8%) regions recorded the highest percentages.  The Federation Units with the highest percentages were Amapá (35.9%), Amazonas (35.7%) and Pará (34.6%) and the lowest, the Federal District (19.4%), Mato Grosso do Sul (22.3%) and São Paulo (23.6%).

Percentage of self-employed persons, by FU (%) - Q1 2022

Maranhão has lowest percentage (47.3%) of workers with a formal contract; Santa Catarina, the highest one (88.2%)

In the first quarter of 2022, 74.1% of the employees in the private sector had a formal labor contract. The North (59.9%) and Northeast (56.9%) recorded the lowest rates. Among domestic workers, 25.0% had a formal contract in Brazil.

Among the Federation Units, the highest percentages of persons employed with a formal contract in the private sector were in Santa Catarina (88.2%), São Paulo (82.4%), Rio Grande do Sul (81.1%), and the lowest ones were in Maranhão (47.3%), Pará (51.3%) and Piauí (51.4%).

Percentage of persons WITH a formal contract
among workers in the private sector, by Federation Unit (%) -
Q1 2022

Compared with the previous quarter, average earnings advances in two regions

In the first quarter of 2022, the usual real average earnings from all jobs of persons aged 14 and over, employed in the week of reference, with income from work, was estimated at R$2,548. This result recorded an increase of 1.5% against the immediately previous quarter (R$2,510) and a reduction of 8.7% in relation to the same quarter a year ago (R$2,789).

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2021, only the North (R$1,985) and Southeast (R$2,875) regions expanded significantly. In relation to the first quarter of 2021, the North Region remained stable and the other regions registered a drop in the average earnings.

The usual real monthly wage bill from all the activities, received by persons aged 14 and over, employed in the week of reference, was estimated at R$237.7 billion reais, remaining stable both in relation to the previous quarter (R$235.3 billion reais) and the first quarter of 2021 (R$237.3 billion reais).

Pará (62.9%) has the highest informality rate and Santa Catarina, the lowest (27.7%)

The informality rate in the first quarter of 2022 stayed at 40.1% of the employed population.  The highest rates were in Pará (62.9%), Maranhão (59.7%) and Amazonas (58.1%), and the lowest ones, in Santa Catarina (27.7%), the Federal District (30.3%) and São Paulo (30.5%).

For the calculation of the informality rate of the employed population, the following populations are considered:  Worker in the private sector without a formal employment contract; Domestic worker without a formal employment contract; Employer without a CNPJ register; Self-employed worker without a CNPJ register; Contributing family worker.

Informality rate of the employed population,
by FU (%) - Q1 2022