Continuous PNAD: unemployment rate is 6.6%; underutilization rate is 15.4% in quarter ending in April
May 29, 2025 09h00 AM | Last Updated: May 30, 2025 11h43 AM
The unemployment rate (6.6%) did not register any significant change in the quarter ended in April 2025 against the quarter between November 2024 and January 2025 (6.5%) and dropped 1.0
| Indicator/Period | Feb-Mar-Apr 2025 | Nov-Dec-Jan 2025 | Feb-Mar-Apr 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 6.60% | 6.50% | 7.50% |
| Underutilization rate | 15.40% | 15.50% | 17.40% |
| Usual real earnings | R$3,426 | R$3,414 | R$3,319 |
| Change of usual real earnings in relation to: | (stable) 0.4% | 3.20% | |
The unemployed population (7.3 million) remained stable in relation to the quarter from November 2024 to January 2025 (7.2 million). However, it fell 11.5% (less 941 thousand persons) compared with the same quarter a year ago (8.2 million).
The employed population (103.3 million) remained stable 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 58.2%, remaining stable in the quarter (58.2%) and changing 0.9 p.p. in the year (57.3%).
The composite underutilization rate (15.4%) showed stability in the quarter (15.5%) and fell 2.0 p.p. in the year (17.4%). The underutilized population (18.0 million) also stood stable in the quarter (18.1 million) and dropped 10.7% (less 2.1 million persons) in the year (20.1 million).
The time-related underemployed population (4.7 million) remained stable in the quarter and dropped 10.5% in the year (less 547 thousand persons). The population out of the workforce (66.8 million) did not change significantly in both comparisons.
The discouraged population (3.1 million persons) stood stable in the quarter and dropped 11.3% (less 392 thousand persons) in the year. The percentage of discouraged workers (2.7%) also remained stable in the quarter (2.8%) and retreated 0.4 p.p. in the year (3.1%).
The number of persons employed in the private sector with a formal contract (excluding domestic workers) was a record: 39.6 million persons. It rose 0.8% (more 319 thousand persons) in the quarter and 3.8% (more 1.5 million persons) in the year. The number of persons employed without a formal contract in the private sector (13.7 million) stood stable in the quarter and in the year.
The number of workers in the public sector (12.7 million) increased 1.8% in the quarter and expanded 3.5% (more 427 thousand persons) in the year.
The number of self-employed workers (26.0 million persons) remained stable in the quarter and rose 2.1% (more 544 thousand persons) in the year. The number of domestic workers (5.8 million) remained stable in the quarter and in the year.
The informality rate was 37.9% of the employed population (or 39.2 million informal workers) against 38.3% (or 39.5 million) in the quarter ended in January and 38.7% (or 39.0 million) in the quarter from February to April 2024.
Usual real earnings from all jobs (R$3,426) remained stable in the quarter and grew 3.2% in the year. The usual real wage bill (R$349.4 billion) was a new record, remaining stable in the quarter and growing 5.9% (more R$19.5 billion) in the year.
Unemployment rate - Brazil - 2012/2025
The workforce (employed and unemployed persons) in the quarter from February to April 2025 reached 110.5 million persons, growing 0.3% over the quarter from November 2024 to January 2025 (more 357 thousand persons) and growing 1.4% (more 1.5 million persons) over the same moving quarter in the previous year.
The analysis of employment by activity group against the quarter from November 2024 to January 2025 showed an increase in the group of Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (2.2% or more 405 thousand persons). The other groups did not change significantly.
Compared with the quarter between February and April 2024, five groups grew: General industry (3.6% or more 471 thousand persons), Trede, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (3.7% or more 696 thousand persons), Transportation, storage and mailing (4.5% or more 257 thousand persons), Information, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (3.4% or more 435 thousand persons) and Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (4.0% or more 731 thousand persons). The group of Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing and aquaculture reduced (-4.3% or less 348 thousand persons).
Composite underutilization rate - Quarters from February to April - Brazil - (in %) - 2012-2025
According to the activity groups, real monthly average earnings usually received in the main job in the moving quarter from February to April 2025 in relation to the quarter from November 2024 to January 2025 increased in the category of Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishery and aquaculture (3.4% or more R$71). The other groups did not change significantly.
Compared with the quarter from February to April 2024, five categories increased: Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishery and aquaculture (6.1% or more R$124), Construction (8.3% or more R$203), Trade ,repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (3.3% or more R$91), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (2.5% or more R$115) and Domestic services (4.5% or more R$56). The other groups did not change significantly.
The analysis of the real monthly average earnings by employment type in relation to the moving quarter from February to April 2025 against the quarter from November 2024 to January 2025 showed that all types remained stable.
The comparison with the quarter from February to April 2024 showed an increase in two categories: Domestic workers (4.5% or more R$56) and Self-employed workers (5.1% or more R$138).
