Continuous PNAD: unemployment rate is 7.0%, underutilization rate is 15.9% in quarter ending in March
April 30, 2025 09h00 AM | Last Updated: May 02, 2025 02h23 PM
The unemployment rate (7.0%) grew 0.8 percentage points (p.p.) against the previous quarter (6.2%) and fell 0.9 p.p. over the same moving quarter in 2024 (7.9%). Despite the rise in the quarterly comparison, it was the lowest unemployment rate for a quarter ended in March in the entire time series of the Continuous PNAD, started in 2012.
| Indicator/Period | Jan-Feb-Mar 2025 |
Oct-Nov-Dec 2024 | Jan-Feb-Mar 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% | 6.2% | 7.9% |
| Underutilization rate | 15.9% | 15.2% | 17.9% |
| Usual real earnings | R$3,410 | R$3,371 | R$3,279 |
| Change of usual real earnings in relation to: | 1.2% | 4.0% | |
The unemployed population (7.7 million) grew 13.1% (or more 891 thousand persons) in the quarter and retreated -10.5% (less 909 thousand persons) in the year.
The employed population (102.5 million) dropped 1.3% (less 1.3 million persons) in the quarter and increased 2.3% (more 2.3 million persons) in the year. The employment-population ratio - percentage of employed persons in the population at working age - was 57.8%, dropping 0.9 p.p. in the quarter (58.7%) and growing 0.8 p.p. (57.0%) in the year.
The composite underutilization rate (15.9%) grew 0.6 p.p. against the previous quarter (15.2%) and fell 2.0 p.p. over the same quarter in 2024 (17.9%). The underutilized population (18.5 million) grew 4.0% (more 706 thousand persons) in the quarter and dropped 10.8% (less 2.2 million) in the year.
The time-related underemployed population (4.6 million persons) retreated 8.0% (less 394 thousand persons) in the quarter and dropped 11.7% (less 603 thousand persons) in the year. The population out of the workforce (67.0 million) increased 1.2% (more 805 thousand persons) in the quarter and remained stable in the year.
The discouraged population (3.2 million) grew 6.6% in the quarter (more 200 thousand persons) and dropped 10.2% (less 367 thousand persons) in the year. The percentage of discouraged persons (2.8%) grew 0.2 p.p. in the quarter and decreased 0.4
The number of those employed in the private sector (53.1 million) fell 1.0% (less 541 thousand persons) in the quarter and grew 3.0% (more 1.5 million persons) in the year. The number of persons employed with a formal contract in the private sector (except domestic workers) remained stable in the quarter and grew 3.9% (more 1.5 thousand persons) in the year. The number of persons employed without a formal contract in the private sector (13.5 million) dropped 5.3% (less 751 thousand persons) in the quarter and remained stable in the year.
The number of persons employed in the
The number of self-employed workers (25.9 million) remained stable in the quarter and grew 2.0% (or more 496 thousand persons) in the year. The number of domestic workers (5.7 million) retreated in both comparisons: -4.0% (less 238 thousand persons) in the quarter and -3.4% (less 202 thousand persons) in the year.
The informality rate was 38.0% of the employed population (or 38.9 million informal workers) against 38.6% (or 40.0 million) in the quarter ended in December 2024 and 38.9% (or 38.9 million) in the quarter ended in March 2024.
Usual real earnings from all jobs (R$3,410) was a new record in the time series started in 2012, growing in both comparisons: 1.2% in the quarter and 4.0% in the year.
The average usual real wage bill (R$345.0 billion) remained stable in the quarter and grew 6.6% (more R$21.2 billion) in the year.
Unemployment rate - Brazil -2012/2025
The workforce (employed and unemployed persons) was estimated at 110.2 million persons in the quarter between January and March 2025, a reduction of 0.4% (or less 444 thousand persons) against the quarter from October to December 2024. An expansion of 1.3% (or more 1.4 million persons) was recorded against the same quarter a year ago.
Compared with the quarter from October to December 2024, employment in the activity groups did not grow in any group, with reduction in four of them: Construction (-5.0% or less 397 thousand persons), Lodging and feeding (-3.3% or less 190 thousand persons), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (-1.6% or less 297 thousand persons) and Domestic services (-4.0% or less 241 thousand persons). The other groups remained stable.
Compared with the quarter from January to March 2024, employment grew in five groups: General industry (3.3%, or more 431 thousand persons), Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (3.1%, or more 592 thousand persons), Transportation, storage and mailing (4.4%, or more 253 thousand persons), Information, communication, and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (4.1%, or more 518 thousand persons) and Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (4.0%, or more 713 thousand persons). Two groups reduced: Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishery and aquaculture (-4.2%, or less 334 thousand persons) and Domestic services (-3.5%, or less 208 thousand persons).
Composite underutilization rate - Quarters December to February - Brazil - 2012 to 2025 (%)
In relation to the quarter from October to December 2024, monthly real monthly average earnings usually received in the main job showed an increase in two activity groups: Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishery and aquaculture (4.1% or more R$85) and Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (3.2% or more R$145), without any significant change in the other groups.
Compared with the quarter from January to March 2024, five categories increased: Agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishery and aquaculture (5.5%, or more R$111), Construction (5.7%, or more R$141), Information, communication, and financial, real estate, professional and administrative activities (4.1%, or more R$189), Public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (4.1%, or more R$189) and Domestic services (3.6%, or more R$45). 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 two categories in relation to the quarter from October to December 2024: Persons employed in the public sector (including statutory servants and the military) (2.6% or more R$129) and Self-employed workers (2.9% or more R$78). The other categories did not record significant changes.
The comparison with the quarter from January to March 2024 showed an increase in three categories: Persons employed with a formal contract (3.4%, or more R$103), Domestic workers (3.6%, or more R$45), Persons employed in the public sector (including statutory servants and the military) (3.1%, or more R$155) and Self-employed workers (5.5%, or more R$147).
