Unemployment rate in the country in Q1 2024 reached 7.9%, havind increased by 0.5 percentage points (p.p.) from Q4 2023 (7.4%) and with a drop of 0.9 p.p. from the same quarter in 2023 (8.8%). Against the previous quarter, the unemployment rate increased in eight of the 27 Federation Units, and remained remaining stable in the other 18 ones with only one drop.

The highest unemployment rates were registered in Bahia (14.0%), Pernambuco (12.4%) and Amapá (10.9%), and the lowest, in Rondônia (3.7%), Mato Grosso (3.7%) and Santa Catarina (3.8%). The unemployment rate by sex was 6.5% among men and 9.8% among women in Q1 2024. The unemployment rate by color or race was below the national average among white persons (6.2%) and above average for black and brown persons (9.7% and 9,1%, respectively).

The unemployment rate for persons with incomplete high school level (13.9%) exceeded the rates of other levels of education. Among persons with incomplete higher education, the rate was 8.9%, more than twice as that observed for complete higher education (4.1%).

In the first quarter of 2024, the compound 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 17.9%. Piauí (37.1%) reported the highest rate, followed by Bahia (32.1%) and Alagoas (29.4%). The lowest underutilization rates were those of Santa Catarina (6.8%), Rondônia (8.0%) and Mato Grosso (10.3%).

By Q1 2024, 1.9 million persons had been looking for a job for two years and over. This number fell by 14.5% from the last quarter of 2023, when 2.2 million persons had been searching for work for two years and over.

The percentage of discouraged persons (against the population in the workforce or discouraged population) in Q1 2024 was 3.2%. Maranhão (12.6%), Piauí (10.4%) and Alagoas (10.0%) recorded the highest percentages of discouraged persons, whereas the lowest percentages were found in Santa Catarina (0.5%), Rondônia (0.9%), Espírito Santo (1.1%) and Paraná (1.1%).

The percentage of employed persons with a formal contract in the private sector was 73.9%. The highest percentages were those of Santa Catarina (87.2%), Paraná (87.2%) and São Paulo (81.4%), and the lowestt, those of Piauí (49.4%), Maranhão (52.0%) and Ceará (54.9%).

The percentage of the self-employed population in Brazil was 25.4%. Rondônia (35.0%), Amapá (32.9%) and Maranhão (32.9%) accounted for the highest percentages and the Federal District (20.4%), Mato Grosso do Sul (21.1%) and Tocantins (21.2%), for the lowest.

The employment informality rate in Brazil represented 38.9% of the employed population. The highest rates were those of Maranhão (57.7%), Pará (56.7%) and Piauí (54.9%) and the lowest ones, of Santa Catarina (27.4%), Federal District (30.7%) and São Paulo (31.0%).

The usual monthly average real earnings amounted to R$3,123, having increased from Q4 2023 (R$3,077) and from Q1 2023 (R$3,004). Against the previous quarter, the South Region (R$ 2,475) was the only Major Region to record significant increase in earnings, whereas the other ones remained stable. As for the annual comparison, increases were recorded in the North, Southeast and South, with stability in the remaining Major Regions.

Unemployment rate increases in eight Federation Units, remains stable in 18 and decreases in Amapá

Against Q4 2023, the unemployment rate increased in eight Federation Units, dropped in other 18 ones and decreases in Amapá. The highest unemployment rates were registered in Bahia (14.0%) and Amapá (10.9%) and the lowest ones, in Rondônia (3.7%), Mato Grosso (3.7%) and Santa Catarina (3.8%).

Unemployment rate, by Federation Unit, against the previous quarter (%) - Q1 2024

Piauí has highest underutilization rate (37.1%) and Santa Catarina, the lowest (6.9%)

The compound underutilization rate of workforce was 17.9% in Q1 2024. Piauí (37.1%) recorded the highest rate, followed by Bahia (32.1%) and Sergipe (29.4%). The lowest underutilization rates were those of Santa Catarina (6.9%), Rondônia (8.0%) and Mato Grosso (10.3%).

Compound underutilization rate of workforce by FU (%) - Q1 2024

Rondônia has the highest proportion of self-employed workers (35.0%) and the Federal District, the lowest (20.4%)

The percentage of the self-employed population in Brazil was 25.4%. The highest percentages were found in Rondônia (35.0%) and Maranhão (32.6%) and the lowest ones in the Federal District (20.4%), Mato Grosso do Sul (21.1%) and Tocantins (21.2%).

Percentage of self-employed persons, by FU (%) - Q1 2024

Lowest percentage of workers with a formal contract is from Piauí (49.4%), and the highest, from Santa Catarina (87.2%)

In Q1 2024, 73.9% of the workers in the private sector in Brazil had a formal employment contract. The North (62.4%) and Northeast Regions (57.9%) reached the lowest levels, whereas the South (83.1%) recorded the highest percentage. Considering domestic workers, 25.0% had a formal employment 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 (87.2%), Paraná (81.8%) and São Paulo (81.4%), and the lowest ones were in Piauí (49.4%), Maranhão (52.0%) and Ceará (54.9%).

Percentage of persons WITH a formal contract among workers in the private sector, by Federation Unit (%) -
Q1 2024

Earnings increased only in the South, against previous quarter

The average usual real earnings estimated at (R$ 3,123) in Q1 2024 grew both against the immediately previous quarter (R$ 3,077) and against the same quarter a year ago (R$ 3,004).

The comparison between Q1 2023 and Q1 2024 shows that the South Region (R$ 2,475) was the only one to increase, whereas the others remained stable. Against Q1 2023, there was an increase in the North, Southeast and South, and stability in the other Major Regions.

The average monthly real wagebill from all the activities was estimated at R$ 308.3 billion, with stability against the previous quarter (R$ 306.2 billion). From Q1 2024 (R$ 289.1 billion), there was an increase of wagebill. nte ao 1º trimestre de 2023 (R$ 289,1 bilhões), houve expansão da massa de rendimento.

Maranhão has highest employment informality rate (57.5%) and Santa Catarina, the lowest (27.4%)

The employment informality rate in Brazil was 38.9% for the employed population. The highest rates were those of Maranhão (57.5%), Pará (56.7%) and Piauí (54.9%) and the lowest ones, of Santa Catarina (27.4%), Federal District (30.7%) and São Paulo (31.0%).

The calculation of employment informality rate of the employed population considers the following groups: Workers in the private sector without a formal employment contract; Domestic worker without a formal employment contract; Employer without a CNPJ number; Self-employed worker without a CNPJ number; and Contributing family worker.

Employment Informality rate of the population, by FU (%) - Q4 2023

Unemployment drops in all the ranges of duration of job search

In Q1 2024, the totals of all ranges of duration of job search recorded percent decreases, as shown in the table below: By Q1 2024, 1.9 million persons had been searching for a job for two years of more This total amount fell by 14.5% against the last quarter of 2023, when there were 2.2 million persons in this range. However, against the start of the time series, in the first quarter of 2012, the total of persons searching for two years and over grew by 8.9%.