Brazil's Unemployment Rate Drops to Historical Low of 5.4%

Brazil's unemployment rate fell to 5.4% in the quarter ending in June, marking the lowest rate for this specific period in the historical series started by the IBGE in 2012. This figure represents a decrease from the 6.1% recorded in the three months ending in March. The number of unemployed people dropped to 5.9 million, which is a 10.9% decline compared to the previous quarter.

The population of employed individuals reached approximately 103 million, a figure described by one source as the highest in the historical series. This growth was driven by increases in public administration, education, health, and transport services, including app-based delivery workers. Formal employment also hit a record high, with private sector employees holding signed work cards reaching 39.4 million.

Average monthly labor income was estimated at R$ 3,738 for the quarter ending in June. This is a slight decrease from the R$ 3,795 recorded in the previous quarter, though one source notes that this variation is within the margin of error and represents stability. Another source highlights that despite the quarterly dip, income rose by 2.8% compared to the same period last year.

Analysts suggest several factors contributed to these trends: positive economic activity, government stimulus measures, and demographic shifts such as an aging population reducing the number of active job seekers.