The unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2022 in Brazil was 8.7%, retreating 0.6 percentage points (p.p.) against the second quarter of 2022 (9.3%) and falling 3.9 p.p. against the same quarter of 2021 (12.6%). In relation to the previous quarter, the unemployment rate retreated in six out of 27 Federation Units, remaining stable in the other 21 ones. The unemployment rate dropped in every region compared with the previous quarter. The Northeast remained with the highest rate (12.0%) and the South, with the lowest one (5.2%).

The highest unemployment rates were registered in Bahia (15.1%), Pernambuco (13.9%) and Rio de Janeiro (12.3%) and, the lowest ones, in Rondônia (3.9%), Mato Grosso (3.8%) and Santa Catarina (3.8%).

The unemployment rate by sex was 6.9% for men and 11.0% for women in the third quarter of 2022. The unemployment rate by color or race stood below the national average (8.7%) for white persons (6.8%) and above that for black (11.1%) and brown (10.0%) persons.

The unemployment rate for persons with incomplete secondary education (15.3%) exceeded the rates of other levels of schooling.  Among persons with incomplete higher education, the rate was 9.1%, more than twice as that observed for complete higher education (4.1%).

In the third 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 20.1%. Piauí (40.6%) reported the highest rate, followed by Sergipe (36.1%) and Bahia (33.7%). The lowest underutilization rates were those of Santa Catarina (6.8%), Rondônia (9.1%) and Mato Grosso (10.5%).

The number of discouraged persons was 4.3 million persons in the third quarter of 2022. The biggest number was that of Bahia (602 thousand discouraged persons).

The percentage of discouraged persons (against the population in the workforce or discouraged) was 3.8% in the third quarter of 2022. Alagoas (17.3%) and Piauí (13.3%) registered the highest percentages and Santa Catarina (0.5%) and Rondônia (1.2%), the lowest ones.

In the third quarter of 2022, 16.6% of those unemployed looked for a job for less than a month, 44.5% looked for one month to less than a year, 11.7%, for one year to less than two years and 27.2% (or 2.6 million persons), for two years or more.

The percentage of those employed with a formal contract in the private sector was 73.3%. The North (57.7%) and Northeast (57.3%) recorded levels below those in the other regions, whereas the South (82.7%) reported the highest level among them.

The percentage of the employed population in Brazil working for themselves was 25.9%. The highest percentages were registered in Rondônia (37.4%), Amapá (34.7%) and Amazonas (32.4%) and the lowest ones, in Goiás (23.2%), Mato Grosso do Sul (22.0%) and Federal District (21.1%).

The informality rate in Brazil was 39.4% of the employed population.  The highest rates were recorded in Pará (60.5%), Maranhão (59.1%) and Amazonas (57.1%) and the lowest ones, in São Paulo (30.6%), Federal District (29.8%) and Santa Catarina (25.9%).

The usual monthly real average earnings were R$2,737, growing against the second quarter of 2022 (R$2,640) and the same quarter of 2021 (R$2,670). Every region increased over the second quarter of 2022. In relation to the third quarter of 2021, earnings expanded in the South and Central-West, whereas they remained stable in the other regions.

Unemployment rate retreats in six FUs and remains stable in other 21

Compared with the second quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate dropped in six Federation Units and remained stable in the remaining FUs. Having changed from 11.9% to 10.1%, Acre stood out, followed by Ceará (from 10.4% to 8.6%) and Rondônia (from 5.8% to 3.9%).

Piauí has highest underutilization rate (40.6%) and Santa Catarina, the lowest one (6.8%)

The composite underutilization rate of the workforce was 20.1% in the third quarter of 2022. Piauí (40.6%) reported the highest rate, followed by Sergipe (36.1%) and Bahia (33.7%). The lowest underutilization rates were those of Santa Catarina (6.8%), Rondônia (9.1%) and Mato Grosso (10.5%).

Taxa composta de subutilização da força de trabalho por UF (%) – 3° trimestre de 2022

Rondônia has highest proportion of self-employed workers (37.4%) and DF, the lowest (21.1%)

The percentage of the employed population in Brazil working for themselves was 25.9%. The highest percentages were registered in Rondônia (37.4%), Amapá (34.7%) and Amazonas (32.4%) and the lowest ones, in Goiás (23.2%), Mato Grosso do Sul (22.0%) and Federal District (21.1%).

Maranhão has lowest percentage (47.0%) of workers with a formal contract; Santa Catarina, the highest one (88.4%)

In the third quarter of 2022, 73.3% of the those employed in the private sector had a formal labor contract. The North (57.7%) and Northeast (57.3%) recorded the lowest rates.

Among the Federation Units, the highest percentages of persons employed with a formal contract in the private sector were in Santa Catarina (88.4%), Rio Grande do Sul (81.3%) and São Paulo (81.2%), and the lowest ones were in Maranhão (47.0%), Piauí (48.5%) and Pará (50.3%).

In Brazil, 2.6 million persons were searching for a job for two years or more

In the third quarter of 2022, 16.6% of those unemployed looked for a job for less than a month, 44.5% looked for one month to less than a year, 11.7%, for one year to less than two years and 27.2% (or 2.6 million persons), for two years or more.

Pará has the highest informality rate (60.5%) and Santa Catarina, the lowest one (25.9%)

The informality rate in Brazil was 39.4% of the employed population.  The highest rates were in Pará (60.5%), Maranhão (59.1%) and Amazonas (57.1%), and the lowest ones, in Santa Catarina (25.9%), Federal District (29.8%) and São Paulo (30.6%).

For the calculation of the informality rate of the employed population, the following populations are considered: Workers in the private sector without a formal employment contract; Domestic workers without a formal employment contract; Employers without a CNPJ register; Self-employed workers without a CNPJ register; and Assisting family workers.