The unemployment rate (8.6%) for the quarter from December 2022 to February 2023 increased by 0.5 percentage points (pp) compared to the quarter from September to November 2022 (8.1%) and decreased by 2.6 pp compared to the same period of the previous year (11.2%).

The unemployed population (9.2 million persons) grew 5.5% (483 thousand more persons) compared to the previous quarter and retreated 23.2% (less 2.8 million unemployed persons) in the annual comparison.

The number of employed persons (98.1 million) decreased 1.6% (1.6 million less persons) compared to the previous quarter and grew 3.0% (more 2.9 million) compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The employment-to-population ratio (percentage of employed persons in the working-age population), estimated at 56.4%, fell by 1.0 pp compared to the previous quarter (57.4%) and increased by 1.2 pp compared to the same quarter of the previous year (55.2%).

The composite labor underutilization rate (18.8%) was stable compared to the September-November 2022 quarter (18.9%) and fell by 4.7 p.p. compared to the quarter ended in February 2022 (23.5%). The underutilized population (21.6 million persons) was also stable compared to the previous quarter (21.9 million) and decreased 20.7% (5.7 million less) in the annual comparison.

The time-related underemployed population (5.1 million) fell 12.4% (719 thousand less persons) compared to the previous quarter and 23.7% (1.6 million less persons) in the year.

The population outside the labor force (66.8 million persons) grew 2.3% compared to the previous quarter (1.5 million more) and 2.2% (1.5 million more) in the annual comparison.

The discouraged population (4.0 million persons) remained stable in relation to the previous quarter and dropped 16.0% (754 thousand less persons) in the annual comparison. The percentage of the discouraged or discouraged workers in the workforce (3.6%) was also stable compared to the previous quarter and fell by 0.7 pp compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

The number of workers with a formal contract in the private sector (excluding domestic workers) was 36.8 million, remaining stable compared to the previous quarter and growing 6.4% (2.2 million more persons) in the annual comparison.

The number of workers without a formal contract in the private sector (13.0 million persons) dropped 2.6% (349 thousand less persons) in relation to the previous quarter and grew 5.5% (678 thousand persons) in the year.

The number of self-employed workers (25.2 million persons) fell 1.2% compared to the quarter ended in November 2022 (301 thousand less persons). In comparison with the same period of the previous year, the contingent remained stable.

The number of domestic workers (5.8 million persons) was stable both in comparison with the previous quarter and with the quarter ended in February 2022.

The number of employers (4.1 million persons) fell 4.8% (206 thousand less persons) compared to the previous quarter and remained stable in the annual comparison.

The number of workers in the public sector (11.7 million persons) fell 4.3% (529 thousand less) compared to the previous quarter, but grew 3.5% in the annual comparison (more 395 thousand).

The informality rate was 38.9% of the employed population (or 38.2 million informal workers) against 38.9% in the previous quarter and 40.2% in the same quarter of the previous year.

The usual real income (R$ 2,853) was stable compared to the previous quarter and grew 7.5% in the year. The usual real wage bill (R$ 275.5 billion) was also stable compared to the previous quarter, but grew 11.4% in the annual comparison.

Unemployment rate - Brazil - 2012/2023

In the moving quarter from December 2022 to February 2023, the workforce (employed and unemployed persons) was estimated at 107.3 million persons, down 1.0% (1.1 million less persons) compared to the quarter of September to November 2022 and remaining stable compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Compared to the previous moving quarter, there was no increase in the number of employed persons in any of the groups of activities investigated by the survey. There was a reduction in the following groups: Agriculture, livestock, forest production, fishing and aquaculture (-2.3%, or 202 thousand less persons), General Industry (-2.7%, or 343 thousand less persons), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (-2.7%, or 471 thousand less persons) and Other services (-3.2%, or 171 thousand less persons).

Compared to the quarter ended in February 2022, there was an increase in: Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (3.3%, or 604 thousand more persons), Transportation, storage and mail (10.4%, or 509 thousand more persons ), Information, Communication and Financial, Real Estate, Professional and Administrative Activities (5.2%, or 588 thousand more persons), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (4.9%, or 802 thousand more persons) and Other services (6.3%, or 313 thousand more persons). There was a reduction in the Agriculture, livestock, forest production, fishing and aquaculture group (-4.6%, or 406 thousand fewer persons).

Composite rate of Labor Underutiization – Quarters from December to February – Brazil – 2013 a 2023 (%)

As for the usual average real earnings (R$2,853), compared to the previous moving quarter, there was an increase in the following categories: Lodging and food (6.0%, or R$ 107 more) and Domestic services (2.6%, or R$ $28 more). The other groups did not show significant change.

Compared to the quarter ended in February 2022, there was an increase in the categories: Agriculture, livestock, forest production, fishing and aquaculture (8.7%, or R$ 147 more), Construction (5.0%, or R$ 107 more) , Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (7.1%, or R$156 more), Transportation, storage and mail (7.7%, or R$192 more), Lodging and food (7.6%, or R$135 more), Information, Communication and Financial, Real Estate, Professional and Administrative Activities (8.1%, or R$305 more), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (6.5 %, or R$247 more), Other services (13.5%, or R$271 more) and Domestic services (5.5%, or R$57 more).

Among employment types, in relation to the previous quarter, there was an increase in the following categories: Domestic worker (2.6%, or R$ 28 more) and Worker in the public sector (including statutory and military servants) (2.0%, or R$84 more). The other categories did not show significant change.

In comparison with the same period of the previous year, there was an increase in all types: Worker with a formal contract (5.0%, or R$ 129 more), Worker without a formal contract (11.7%, or  R$201 more), Domestic worker (5.5%, or R$57 more), Worker in the public sector (including statutory and military servants) (5.7%, or R$235 more), Employer (10.1%, or R$642 more) and Self-employed (10.0%, or R$ 209 more).