Ungoverned, Brazil breaks record with 14.3 million unemployed

Current Brazil Network – The country started 2021 reaching a record number of unemployed. In the quarter ended in January, there were 14.272 million, 211 thousand more than in October, a situation considered to be stable, but with an increase of 2.359 million in one year. Growth of 19.8%. The total number of discouraged people approached 6 million. There was little growth in employment in the quarter, driven by informal work.

The data are from the National Household Sample Survey (Pnad) Continuous, released this Wednesday (31) by IBGE. The average unemployment rate (14.2%) was practically stable in the quarter, but grew three points in one year and is the highest for the period in the whole series.

Almost 6 million discouraged

With a total of 5.902 million, the number of discouraged people was also stable in the quarter. But it grew 25.6% compared to the same period in 2020: 1.204 million more. They represent 5.6% of the workforce, compared to 4.2% a year ago.

The employed amount to 86.025 million. Small growth (2%) in the quarter, with 1.725 million more people. And a 8.6% drop in one year – 8.126 million less. The level of occupation (percentage of employed persons in relation to people of working age) was 48.7%, compared to 54.8% a year ago.

Excluded and underused

The population outside the workforce, which totals 76.377 million, fell slightly (1.1%) in a quarter, with 817 thousand less. And it increased 16.2% in one year: 10.644 million more.

According to IBGE, underutilized people (people who would like to work more) are now 32.380 million. The institute achieved stability in three months and growth of 22.7% in 12, with an additional 6 million in this situation. The underutilization rate is 29%, compared to 29.5% in the previous quarter and 23.2% a year ago.

With and without wallet

In relation to October, the number of employees with a formal contract in the private sector (29.792 million) was stable. Employees without a formal contract (9.809 million) grew 3.6% and self-employed workers (23.503 million) rose 4.7%. In the annual comparison, the total of employees with a formal contract falls 11.6%, those without a formal contract decrease 16% and the self-employed, 4.4%. Domestic workers (4.919 million) grew 4.5% in the quarter, but fell 21.4% in one year. Yesterday (30), the Ministry of Economy released results of formal employment, but the data are not comparable.

Among the sectors, in the quarter two grew (agriculture and areas linked to services). At 12 months, most fall and some are stable. Employment in accommodation and food services recorded a drop of 28.1% (minus 1.585 million) and industry, of 10.3% (loss of 1.251 million vacancies).

Less R $ 16 billion in the economy

The informality rate rose to 39.7%: 34.1 million informal. It was slightly above the immediately previous quarter (38.8%) and below that recorded in the beginning of 2020 (40.7%).

Estimated at R $ 2,521, average income rose 2.9% in the quarter and was stable in the annual comparison. The mass of income showed stability in three months and fell 6.9% in relation to January of last year: minus R $ 15.7 billion.

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