Unemployment at 4.8% in January
The latest Monthly Employment Survey released Tuesday (Feb. 20) by the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute (IBGE) reported that the unemployment rate was 4.8% in January this year.
It has been the lowest rate recorded for January since the time series began in March 2002. In January last year, unemployment was 5.4%, and in December 2013, 4.3%.
The unemployed population (1.2 million people) in January was 9.6% higher than in December, but 12.6% lower than recorded in January last year. In contrast, the employed population (23.1 million) decreased by 0.9% against December and remained stable compared to January 2013. The number of people working under formal employment contracts was 11.8 million, remaining unchanged from December and January 2013.
The IBGE survey is collected in six metropolitan areas: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Salvador, and Porto Alegre.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Unemployment at 4.8% in January
