MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Record unemployment in Brazil

Unemployment in Brazil during April reached a record 13,1%, the highest since the index was started in October 2001, reports the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Office, IBGE. Unemployment in March was 12,8%.

The metropolitan areas which recorded a significant increase in the index compared to March are, Recife from 12,6% to 14,3%; Rio do Janeiro 9,8% and 10,7%; Porto Alegre 9,6% and 10,7%. Among those remaining stable, Sao Paulo, 14,6% and 14,5%; Salvador, 17,1% and 16,6%; Belo Horizonte, 12,1% and 11,4%.

The IBGE Monthly Employment poll also indicates that 2,8 million Brazilians were looking for a job in the six main metropolitan areas polled, an 8,5% or 220,000 more people than in March 2003.

Women represent 56,3% of the unemployed recorded in April 2004, ever increasing since 2002, with 52,9% and 54,4% in 2003.

As to income of those employed, the poll indicates that in the six metropolitan areas considered, in April it averaged 868,50 Reales equivalent to 3,5 minimum monthly salaries and a 0,9% drop compared to March.

For qualified labour in the private sector the average was 906 Reales, (0,8% less than in March), and 542 Reales for unqualified labour and those self employed 704 Reales.

Compared to April 2003, this represents an average substantial drop of 3,5% in salaries purchasing power, with a greater purchasing power loss in Recife and Sao Paulo, 7,1% and 7,7%.