Agência Brasil

Brasília - The 5% reduction in what industry earned on a per worker basis over the 12 months ending in May suggests a future decline in the offer of jobs in the sector, according to the Conjunctural Note released yesterday (14) by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI).

Industrial employment grew 6.5% in the first five months of 2005. Even if the net hiring surplus continues at the same level from June to December, industrial employment will rise 4.3% in 2005, more than the 3.5% recorded last year, according to the bulletin.

The CNI also noted that "the unemployment rate is decreasing, since only 10.2% of the economically active population affirmed in May that they had not been able to find any gainful activity." The rate was 12.2% a year ago.

According to the Confederation, the month of May ended with 400 thousand fewer people on the unemployment roles, since 720 thousand jobs were created during the period - twice as many as the number of people who started to look for jobs.

Translation: David Silberstein