The unemployment rate was estimated at 13.7% in the January-March 2017 quarter, rising 1.7 percentage points against the October-December 2016 quarter (12.0%) and 2.8 percentage points in relation to the same moving quarter in 2016 (10.9%). This was the highest unemployment rate in the time series, started in the first quarter of 2012.

The unemployed population reached 14.2 million and hit the record of the time series. This contingent increased 14.9% (more 1.8 million persons) over the previous quarter and 27.8% (more 3.1 million persons looking for a job) in relation to the same quarter in 2016.

The employed population (88.9 million) retreated in relation to the previous quarter (-1.5%, or less 1.3 million persons) and also in relation to the same quarter in 2016
(-1.9%, or less 1.7 million persons). This was the smallest contingent of employed persons since the February-April 2012 quarter.

The employment population ratio – percentage of employed persons in the population at working age – declined to 53.1% in the January-March 2017 quarter and dropped 0.9 percentage points against the level of the previous quarter (54.0%). It retracted 1.7 percentage points in relation to the level of the same quarter in 2016 (54.7%) This was the lowest employment population ratio in the time series of the survey.

The number of employed persons with a formal contract (33.4 million persons) retreated in both comparison periods: against the October-December 2016 quarter (-1.8%, or less 599 thousand persons) and against the January-March 2016 quarter (-3.5%, or less 1.2 million persons). This was the smallest contingent of workers with a formal contract ever reported in the time series of the survey.

The  average usual real earnings (R$2,110) in the quarter ended in March 2017 remained stable over the previous quarter (R$2,064) and also in relation to the same quarter in 2016 (R$2,059). The usual real wage bill(R$182.9 billion) in the quarter ended in March 2017 also remained stable in both comparisons.

Chart 1 - Unemployment Rate - Brazil - 2012/2017

Source: IBGE, Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios Contínua

In the January-March 2017 quarter, about 14.2 million persons were unemployed in Brazil. This contingent represented a growth of 14.9% against the October-December 2016 quarter, when the unemployment was estimated at 12.3 million persons. This estimate rose 27.8% compared with the same quarter in 2016, meaning more 3.1 million persons unemployed in the workforce.

The contingent of employed persons was estimated at 88.9 million persons in the January-March 2017 quarter. This was the lowest number of employed persons registered in the Continuous PNAD since the February-April 2012 quarter, noting that the survey data are not seasonally adjusted. The number of working persons declined both in relation to the previous quarter (-1.5%, or less 1.3 million persons) and in relation to the same quarter a year ago (-1.9%, or less 1.7 million persons).

 The employment population ratio – percentage of employed persons in the population at working age – was estimated at 53.1% in the January-March 2017 quarter, dropping 0.9 percentage points against the October-December 2016 quarter (54.0%). This indicator retracted 1.7 percentage points in relation to the same quarter last year, when it declined from 54.7% to 53.1%. It should be highlighted that it was the lowest employment population ratio recorded since the beginning of the time series.

Chart 2 - Employment Population Ratio - Brazil - 2012/2017

Source: IBGE, Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios Contínua

The workforce, – employed and unemployed persons – in the January-March 2017 quarter was estimated at 103.1 million persons, the highest number in the time series. This population grew 0.5% compared with theOctober-December 2016 quarter. It rose 1.4% against the same quarter in 2016 (more 1.4 million persons). The increase of the workforce in Brazil was exclusively due to the increase of the unemployed population.

The contingent out of the workforce in the January-March 2017 quarter (64.4 million persons) remained stable in relation to the October-December 2016 quarter. It rose 0.9% against the same quarter in 2016 (or more 574 thousand persons).

The contingent of persons employed in the private sector with a formal contract, estimated at 33.4 million persons, shrank in both comparisons: against the January-March 2016 quarter (-1.8%, or less 599 thousand persons) and against the January-March 2016 quarter (-3.5%, or less 1.2 million persons).

In the January-March 2017 period, the category of the persons employed in the private sector without a formal contract (10.2 million persons) dropped in relation to the previous quarter (-3.2%), yet it rose 4.7% (or more 461 thousand persons) in relation to the same quarter last year.

The category of the self-employed persons (22.1 million persons) remained stable in relation to the previous quarter (October-December 2016). It dropped (-4.6%, or less 1.1 million persons) in relation to the same period a year ago.

The contingent of employers, estimated at 4.1 million persons, remained stable against the immediately previous quarter. In relation to the same period a year ago, this contingent rose 10.8% (more 403 thousand persons).

Estimated at 6.1 million persons, the category of domestic workers remained stable in both comparative quarters.

The analysis of the contingent of the activity groups between the January-March 2017 quarter and the October-December 2016 quarter registered a drop in Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fishing and Aquiculture(-2.7%, or less 240 thousand persons), Construction (-3.4%, or less 242 thousand persons), Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (-2.5%, or less 438 thousand persons) and Public Administration, Defense, Social Security, Education, Human Health and Social Services (-3.1%, or less 484 thousand persons). The groups that rose were: Housing and food (3.4%, or more 165 thousand persons) andInformation, communication and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (2.1%, or more 201 thousand persons). The other groups remained stable.

The contingent of the following groups shrank in relation to the January-March 2016 quarter: Construction(-9.5%, or less 719 thousand persons), Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fishing and Aquiculture (-8.0%, or less 758 thousand persons), Overall Industry (-2.9%, or less 342 thousand persons) and Domestic services(-2.9%, or less 184 thousand persons). Only the group of Housing and Food rose (11.0%, or more 493 thousand persons). The other groups did not show any significant change.

The average usual real earnings from all jobs earned by employed persons was estimated at R$2,110 in theJanuary-March 2017 quarter, remaining stable against the October-December 2016 quarter (R$2,064). A stable picture was also registered in relation to the same quarter a year ago (R$2,059).

The average usual real earnings in relation to the previous (October-December 2016) quarter rose for Persons employed in the public sector (1.9%) and for Domestic workers (1.7%). Only those employed in the public sector posted a positive change (4.3%) in relation to the same quarter in 2016 (January-March 2016). The other positions remained stable in the periods under analysis.

Three activity groups registered statistically-significant changes in relation to the October-December 2016quarter: Overall Industry (3.4%), Public Administration, Defense, Social Security, Education, Human Health and Social Services (2.3%) and Domestic services (1.7%). The other groups remained stable. Two groups had their earnings higher against the January-March 2016 quarter: Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fishing and Aquiculture (7.3%) and Public Administration, Defense, Social Security, Education, Human Health and Social Services (3.4%). The other groups remained stable.

In the January-March 2017 quarter, the usual real wage bill earned from all jobs was estimated at R$182.9 billion, remaining stable in both comparisons.

 Social Communication
April 28, 2017