Rio - Unemployment in Brazil's six principal metropolitan regions for the month of June was 11.7%, compared to 12.2% in May, reports the government stastical bureau (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) (IBGE), With the decrease, for the second consecutive month, unemployment is now back where it was in January.

The Monthly Employment Survey by the IBGE found that there were 18.9 million Brazilians employed, an increase of 598,000 over June 2003, which translates to a 3.3% increase.

As for wages, the results are mixed. There was a rise from May to June of 1.8% (wages reached US$291.54 (R$886)). However, compared to June 2003, they were down 0.5%.

The IBGE did find more good news: the number of people with on-the-books, legal jobs rose 3.2%.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Nielmar de Oliveira
Translator: Allen Bennett
07/23/2004