The  unemployment rate (6.8%) in the quarter ended in February 2025 grew 0.7 percentage points (p.p.) against the previous quarter (6.1%) and fell 1.1 p.p. against the moving quarter ended in February 2024 (7.8%).

The unemployed population (7.5 million) grew 10.4% (or more 701 thousand persons) in the quarter and retreated -12.5% (less 1.1 million persons) in the year.

The employed population (102.7 million) dropped 1.2% (less 1.2 million persons) in the quarter and increased 2.4% (more 2.4 million persons) in the year. The employment-population ratio - percentage of employed persons in the population at working age - was 58.0%, dropping 0.8 p.p. in the quarter (58.8%) and growing 0.9 p.p. (57.1%) in the year.

The composite underutilization rate (15.7%) grew 0.4 p.p. against the previous quarter (15.2%) and fell 2.1 p.p. against the same quarter last year (17.8%). The underutilized population (18.3 million) grew 2.8% (more 491 thousand persons) in the quarter and dropped 11.5% (less 2.4 million) in the year.

The time-related underemployed population (4.5 million persons) retreated 10.9% (less 557 thousand persons) in the quarter and dropped 10.7% (less 542 thousand persons) in the year. The population out of the workforce (66.9 million) increased 1.4% (more 902 thousand persons) in the quarter and remained stable in the year. The discouraged population (3.2 million) grew 6.9% in the quarter (more 208 thousand persons) and dropped 11.8% (less 435 thousand persons) in the year. The percentage of discouraged persons (2.9%) grew 0.2 p.p. in the quarter and decreased 0.4 p.p. in the year.

The number of those employed in the private sector (53.1 million) fell 0.8% (less 440 thousand persons) in the quarter and grew 3.5% (more 1.8 million persons) in the year. The number of persons employed in the private sector with a formal contract (excluding domestic workers) was a new record in the time series started in 2012: 39.6 million, with rises in both comparisons: 1.1% (more 421 thousand persons) in the quarter and 4.1% (more 1.6 million persons) in the year. The number of persons employed without a formal contract in the private sector (13.5 million) dropped 6.0% (less 861 thousand persons) in the quarter and remained stable in the year.

The number of persons employed in the public sector (12.4 million) declined 3.9% (less 496 thousand persons) in the quarter and increased 2.8% (more 334 thousand persons) in the year.

The number of self-employed workers (25.9 million) remained stable in the quarter and grew 1.7% (or more 434 thousand persons) in the year. The number of domestic workers (5.7 million) retreated in both comparisons: -5.0% (less 300 thousand persons) in the quarter and -3.7% (less 219 thousand persons) in the year.

The informality rate was 38.1% of the employed population (or 39.1 million informal workers) against 38.7% (or 40.3 million) in the quarter ended in November 2024 and 38.7% (or 38.8 million) in the quarter ended in February 2024.

Usual real earnings from all jobs (R$3,378) grew in both comparisons: 1.3% in the quarter and 3.6% in the year, hitting the record in the time series started in 2012.

The average usual real wage bill (R$342.0 billion) was a new record, remaining stable in the quarter and growing 6.2% (more R$20.0 billion) in the year.

Unemployment rate - Brazil -2012/2024

The workforce (employed and unemployed persons) was estimated at 110.1 million persons in the quarter between December 2024 and February 2025, a reduction of 0.5% (or less 539 thousand persons) against the quarter from September to November 2024. An expansion of 1.2% (more 1.4 million persons) was recorded against the same quarter a year ago.

Concerning the groups of activity over the quarter from September to November 2024, the analysis pointed out a lack of growth in every category. Three groups reduced: Construction (-4.0% or less 310 thousand persons), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (-2.5% or less 468 thousand persons) and Domestic services (-4.8% or less 290 thousand persons).

Compared with the quarter from December 2023 to February 2024 four groups increased: General industry (3.2% or more 409 thousand persons), Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (3.6% or more 690 thousand persons), Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (3.5% or more 447 thousand persons) and Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (4.1% or more 717 thousand persons). Only the group of Domestic services reduced (-3.6% or less 216 thousand persons).

Composite underutilization rate - Quarters December to February - Brazil - 2012 to 2024 (%)

In the moving quarter from December 2024 to February 2025 over the quarter from September to November 2024, the analysis of the real monthly average earnings usually received in the main job according to the  activity groups showed an increase in three categories: Industry (2.8% or more R$89), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (3.1% or more R$139) and Domestic services (2.3% or more R$29). The other groups did not change significantly.

Compared with the quarter between December 2023 and February 2024, two categories increased: Construction (5.4% or more R$135) and Domestic services (3.1% or more R$39). The other groups did not change significantly.

The analysis of the real monthly average earnings usually received in the main job, according to the employment type increased in three categories in relation to the quarter of September to November 2024: Domestic workers (2.3% or more R$29), Persons employed in the public sector (including statutory servants and the military) (3.5% or more R$174) and Self-employed workers (3.6% or more R$97). The other categories did not record significant changes.