The labor market in Brazil showed another sign of strength in the quarter ended in August. The unemployment rate fell to 5,3%, according to data from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey released by IBGE.
Drop in the number of unemployed
The country recorded 5,8 million people without work, a reduction of 4,6% compared to the previous quarter. Year-over-year, the drop reached 4,9%, representing 300 thousand fewer people in the unemployment line.
Occupation at historical level
The employed population reached 103,5 million individuals, an unprecedented mark in the institute's historical series. Growth was 0,8% in the quarter and 1% in the year, driven mainly by the industry and construction sectors.
The survey analyst highlighted that the industrial recovery reflects companies' planning to meet second-half demand after a period of stability.
Other indicators
- Employment rate: 58,9%
- Underutilization rate: 13,1%
- Underutilized population: 15 million
- Informality: 37,5% (38,8 million workers)
Average real income stood at R$ 3.777, stable in the quarter, but up 3,7% compared to the same period last year. The total mass of earnings reached R$ 385,6 billion, a new record in the series.
Signed employment contracts on the rise
The number of private-sector employees with signed contracts, excluding domestic workers, remained at 39,5 million, the largest contingent ever recorded. The data indicate stability both in the quarter and year-over-year.
The population outside the labor force reached 66,4 million, while discouraged workers totaled 2,4 million, down 11,9% in one year.