The unemployment rate, in Brazil was estimated at 7.9% in Q1 2015, the highest result recorded since the first semester of 2013 (8.0%). This estimate has increased in comparison with those of Q4 2014 (6.5%) and Q1 2014 (7.2%). For the first time, Continuous PNAD brings complete information on the labor market for Brazil, its Major Regions and Federation Units. The Northeast Region had the highest rate (9.6%), and The South Region, the lowest (5.1%). Among the Federation Units, Rio Grande do Sul had the highest rate (11.5%) and Santa Catarina, the lowest (3.9%).

The unemployed population (7.934 million persons) changed by 23.0% versus results of the previous quarter. In relation to Q1 2014, the figure was 12.6%.

The employment-population ratio (the indicator which measures the employed population in relation to the working age population) was estimated at 56.2% in the first quarter of 2015, below the 56.9% recorded in the previous quarter and of the 56.8% recorded in the first semester last year. The employed population was estimated at 92.023 million, reflecting change of -0.9% in comparison with the previous quarter and of 0.8% versus the figure in the same quarter in 2014. In Q1 2015, 78.2% of the workers in the private sector had a formal employment contract , which means an increase of 0.5 percentage points in relation to the same quarter in 2014 (77.7%). In relation to the previous quarter, there was no statistically-significant change.

The average usual real wage bill of employed persons was estimated at R$ 1,840. This figure is 0.8% bigger than that recorded in the previous quarter (R$ 1,825) and stable in relation to that obtained in Q1 2014 (R$ 1,840). The usual average real earnings of employed persons amounted to R$ 163.8 billion, with increase of 3.0% versus that of Q4 2014. In the annual comparison, this estimate increased by 8.7%.

The complete publication wit data released today is available at
http://www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/trabalhoerendimento/pnad_continua/.

Unemployment rate in Brazil changes from 6.5% in Q4 2014 to 7.9% in Q1 2015

The unemployment rate in Brazil was estimated at 7.9% in Q1 2015. This figure represents an increase of 1.4 percentage points versus the result of last semester (6.5%). In comparison with the 1st quarter of 2014 (7.2%), the rate increased 0.8 percentage points.

In Q1 2015, the Northeast Region had the highest unemployment rate (9.6%), and the South Region, the lowest (5.1%). In the Central West, from the 1st quarter of 2014 to the first quarter of 2015, there was increase of 1.5 percentage points in the unemployment rate, and in the North and Southeast Regions, by of 1.0 percentage points.

The analyses indicate significant differences in the unemployment rate of men and women; that was also observed in the five Major Regions. In Q1 2015, the rate was estimated at 6.6% for men and 9.6% for women. Among youngster aged 18 to 24, the rate was 17.6%, a high level in relation to the average rate (7.9%). That behavior was observed both at national level and among the Major Regions.

The unemployment rate for the number of persons with incomplete high school education (14.%) was above that registered for the other education levels. Among persons with incomplete high school, the rate was estimated at 9.1%, practically twice as the rate recorded by those with complete higher education (4.6%).

Employment-population ratio falls in Q1 2015

The employment-population ratio (indicator which measures the employed population in relation to the population at working age) in Brazil, in Q1 2015, was estimated at 56.2%. This indicator recorded statistically significant change in relation to the previous quarter, when it was only 56.9% and also in comparison with the same quarter in 2014 (56.8%). The South 960.6%) and Central West (60.3%) Regions recorded the highest percentages. The Northeast Region registered the lowest employment-population ratio (51.4%).

In Q1 2015, the employment-population ratio among men was estimated at 67.4% and that of women, 45.9%. Similar behavior of this indicator was observed in the five Major Regions, the main highlight being the North Region, which recorded the biggest difference between men and women (69.5% for men and 42.8% for women) , and the South, with the smallest difference (70.5% for men and 51.3% for women).

In Q1 2015, the employment population ratio of the group aged 25 to 39 was estimated at 74.9%, and the group aged 40 to 59, 69.3%. Among youngsters aged 18 to 24, this estimate was 56.0%. Considering minors aged 14 to 17, this estimate was 15.4%, whereas, among the elderly (60 years of age and over), 22.0%.

In the groups with higher levels of schooling, the employment population ratio was higher. In Q1 2015, 30.9% of the persons without any level of schooling were working. Among persons with complete higher education, the employment-population ratio reached 78.6%.

Percentage of workers with a formal contract in the private sector increases in Q1 2015

In Q1 2015, 78.2% of the workers in the private sector had a formal employment contract, which means an increase of 0.5 percentage points in relation to the same quarter in 2014 (77.7%). In relation to the previous quarter, there was no statistically-significant change. Among domestic workers, the survey showed that 32.3% had a formal contract in the private sector in the 1st quarter of 2015, whereas, in the same quarter a year ago, the figure was 31.5%. Military and civil servants corresponded to 69.4% of the workers in the public sector.

The percentage of workers with a formal contract in the private sector had different performances. The North (64.7%) and Northeast (63.8%) Regions were below the other Regions. The comparison between the 1st quarter of 2015 with the same quarter in 2014 recorded bigger increase of this indicator in the Central West Region, where there was a change from 77.1% to 79.0% in this period.

Average earnings remain stable in relation to Q1 2014

In Q1 2015, the average real income usually earned from all activities, of persons aged 14 and over, employed in the week of reference, with earnings from work, was estimated at R$ 1,840. This result in relation to the same quarter in 2014 (R$ 1840) was considered stable. In comparison with the previous quarter (R$ 1,825), there was rise of 0.8%.

In Q1 2015, the average real earnings from all activities, of persons aged 14 and over, employed in the week of reference, with earnings from work, was estimated at R$ 163.8 billion, stable in relation to the previous quarter (R$ 164.2 billion). In comparison with the same quarter in 2014 (R$ 162.3 billion), this estimate fell by 0.9%.

39.0% of the persons were out of the work force in Q1 2015

In Brazil, in Q1 2015, 39.0% of the persons at working age were classified as out of the work force, that is, those who were not employed or unemployed in the week of reference of the survey.

The Northeast Region recorded the biggest number of persons out of the work force (43.1%). The South (36.2%) and Central West (34.9%) had the lowest percentages. This configuration did not change significantly throughout the time series available.

Women were the majority in the population out of the work force, representing 65.9 in Q1 2015. About 34.9% of the population out of the work force was formed by the elderly (persons aged 60 and over). Persons under 25 years of age made up 28.6% and adults, with ages ranging between 25 and 59, represented 36.6%. In Q1 2015, more than half of this population (52.6%) had not finished elementary school and a little less than a quarter had finished high school (26.1%).