Cristiane Ribeiro
Reporter Agência Brasil

Rio - The unemployment rate in Brazil's six largest metropolitan regions was 9.4% in June, the lowest since December of last year when it was 9.6%. This survey, conducted regularly by the government statistical bureau (IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística), took place in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, Recife, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre, and is known as the Monthly Employment Survey. For the sake of further comparison, the rate was 10.2% a month ago in May, and 11.7% a year ago in June 2004.

The IBGE reports that its June numbers show that unemployment continues its downward tendency.

The IBGE survey also found an increase of 6.6% in formal jobs, compared to May, which means an additional 492,000 on-the-books jobs were created. Finally, the survey found that wages were up 1.5% in June, compared to May.

Translator: Allen Bennett