THE IBGE announced this Tuesday (30) that the unemployment rate in Brazil rose to 7.9% in the quarter ended in March, the highest since 2015. This result represents an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous quarter, and 0.7 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023.
Increase in all regions
- North: 8.2% (up 0.3 percentage points);
- North East: 9.2% (up 0.2 percentage points);
- Southeast: 7.1% (up 0.1 percentage points);
- South: 8.1% (up 0.2 percentage points);
- Midwest: 8.3% (up 0.4 percentage points).
Challenges in the labor market
- Fewer formal vacancies: The number of people employed with a formal employment contract fell by 0.2%, to 37.5 million;
- More discouraged: The number of people who gave up searching job for not seeing opportunities it rose 1.2%, to 4.5 million;
- Informal work on the rise: The number of people who work independently without a formal contract rose by 1.2%, to 25.2 million.
Factors contributing to rising unemployment
- High inflation: Rising cost of living reduces families’ purchasing power, affecting consumption and job creation;
- High interest: They make it difficult for companies to access credit, which can lead to reduced investment and layoffs;
- Slow economic growth: The Brazilian economy is not growing at the pace needed to generate new jobs.
Experts warn of the need for measures to combat unemployment
- Infrastructure investment: It can generate jobs and boost economic growth;
- Workforce qualification: It is essential to invest in education and professional training so that people are prepared for the challenges of the job market;
- Reduction of informality: It is necessary to create a more favorable environment for the formalization of work, with less bureaucracy and more incentives for companies.
Rising unemployment is a serious problem that affects millions of Brazilians. The government and civil society must come together to find solutions to this problem and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to work and have a dignified life.
Image: Reproduction/Internet
