Rio, 23/10/02 (Agência Brasil – ABr) – The average open unemployment rate was 7.3% in August, down from 7.5% in July, reports the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The number of persons economically active rose 0.2%, while the number not economically active rose 0.3%. Number of occupied persons was up 0.4%, and those seeking jobs rose 2.7%.

The survey was made in Brazil's six main metropolitan regions: Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre.

Today, IBGE releases September's unemployment numbers. (AB)