The unemployment rate in Brazil fell to 5.6% in the quarter ended in September, repeating the lowest rate in the historical series that began in 2012, according to data from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey, released this Friday (31) by IBGE.
This result shows that, in the quarter, the unemployed population in the country was 6.045 million, the smallest number in the series; a drop of 3.3% compared to the previous quarter and 11.8% compared to the same period in 2024.
The population in the job market remained stable, above 102 million, still at a record level, while the employment level stood at 58.7%.
The number of employees with a formal contract renewed its record, reaching 39.2 million.
The research also shows that the worker’s real average income was R$3,507 in the quarter ended in September. This result represents an increase of 4% compared to the same quarter in 2024.
Sectors
The number of people in the workforce — which includes employed and unemployed people — was estimated at 108.5 million in the quarter from July to September 2025, according to IBGE data.
The number remained stable in relation to the previous quarter and registered an increase of 0.5% (566 thousand more people) compared to the same period in 2024.
Analysis by activity groups shows that, compared to the previous quarterthere was increase in the number of people employed in agriculture, livestock, forestry production, fishing and aquaculture (3.4%, or more 260 thousand people) and in construction (3.4%, or more 249 thousand people). Already the number of workers decreased in the commerce, motor vehicle and motorcycle repair groups (drop of 1.4%, or 274 thousand fewer people) and domestic services (decrease of 2.9%, or 165 thousand fewer people). The other sectors remained stable.
In comparison with the quarter from July to September 2024there was growth in the number of people employed in transport, storage and mail (6.7%, or more 371 thousand people) and in public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (3.9%, or more 724 thousand people). The only decline was observed in domestic services (decrease of 5.1%, or 301 thousand fewer people). The other groups did not show significant variations.
