Unemployment rate (annual) in Brazil

IBGE · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: 6.8% 2027: 7.4% 2028: 7.4% 2029: 7.4% 2030: 7.4% 2031: 7.4%

11.1% (1999) ANUAL · % · Annual · CSV

Period	%
Jan 1999	11.1%
Jan 1998	10.1%
Jan 1997	9.0%
Jan 1996	8.0%
Jan 1995	7.1%
Jan 1994	6.5%
Jan 1993	6.0%
Jan 1992	6.4%
Jan 1991	6.4%

About this indicator

Source

International Monetary Fund

Frequency

Annual

Release

Published annually, covering the full year and subject to revision.

What it is

The unemployment rate is the percentage of jobless people relative to Brazil's total labour force. It is the main gauge of the labour market and of the economy's ability to create jobs, and it is published by the IBGE.

How it's calculated

It is derived from the IBGE's continuous household survey (PNAD Contínua), following ILO criteria: a person is counted as unemployed if they are without work, available for work and actively seeking it. It is usually released as a rolling three-month average.

Market implications

Its trend shows the vigour of the Brazilian economy. A strong labour market boosts household consumption and income and is a key variable for the central bank's Selic decisions and for the real.

Limitations

It is worth distinguishing whether the rate moves because of shifts in labour demand or because of changes in the labour force (for example, discouraged workers or new entrants). Survey data are subject to sampling error and revisions, and the three-month average smooths sharp turns.