Rio, September 24, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The unemployment rate was 13% in August, practically stable in relation to July, when the rate was 12.8%. Compared with August, 2002 (11.7%), there was a 1.3% increase. These data come from the Monthly Employment Survey, released today by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in this capital.

Compared with last August, unemployment among young people between 16 and 24 years old rose 3%, ending up at 26.3%. For the 25-49 age group, the rate stood at 10%, a 1% increase. For the 50+ age group, the rate was 5.4%, an increase of 0.4%.

The survey shows that in August the average salary of workers rose 1.5% in comparison with July, but it fell 13.8% in comparison with August, 2002. (DAS)