Cristiane Ribeiro
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - The latest monthly employment survey (Pesquisa Mensal de Emprego) (PME), shows that
the unemployment rate in the country's six major metropolitan regions rose to 10.1% in February, compared to 9.2% in January. Even so, the rate was the lowest for February since 2002, when the PME survey began. The PME survey is conducted by the government statistical bureau (Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE).

Compared to February 2005, in February 2006 there were 398,000 more people working (with formal, on-the-books jobs; which means they pay taxes and receive worker benefits), That is an increase of 5.1%, year-to-year.

Real wages in February 2006 were up 1.1% to an average US$463.88, compared to January. Compared to February 2005, the increase was 2.5%.

Translation: Allen Bennett