The unemployment rate in Brazil averaged 5.4%in the moving quarter ending January 2026, remaining unchanged from that of the moving quarter ending October of 2025, and aligned with market expectations. It was the slowest on record for the period, holding the view that the Brazilian labor market remained tight at the turn of the year despite the prolonged period of high base rates by the central bank and slowdown in growth. The unemployed population remained broadly unchanged from the earlier moving quarter at 5.9 million, and the employed population also remained loosely unchanged at 102.7 million. In the meantime, average wages grew by 2.8% on the quarter to R$3,65 monthly. This was equivalent to a 5.4% annual growth rate, ahead of the inflation rate in the period. source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE)

Unemployment Rate in Brazil increased to 5.40 percent in January from 5.10 percent in December of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Brazil averaged 9.72 percent from 2012 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 14.90 percent in September of 2020 and a record low of 5.10 percent in December of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Brazil Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Brazil Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Brazil increased to 5.40 percent in January from 5.10 percent in December of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Brazil is expected to be 5.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Brazil Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 7.10 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-30 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 5.1% 5.2% 5.1% 5.20%
2026-03-05 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 5.4% 5.1% 5.4% 5.3%
2026-03-27 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 5.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 102.67 103.00 Million Jan 2026
Employment Rate 58.70 58.90 percent Jan 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 62.10 62.10 percent Jan 2026
Unemployed Persons 5.85 5.50 Million Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.40 5.10 percent Jan 2026
Wages 3613.00 3581.00 BRL/Month Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 3417.00 3406.00 BRL/Month Dec 2025


Brazil Unemployment Rate
In Brazil, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5.40 5.10 14.90 5.10 2012 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Brazil Unemployment Rate Holds at Tight Range
The unemployment rate in Brazil averaged 5.4% in the moving quarter ending January 2026, remaining unchanged from that of the moving quarter ending October of 2025, and aligned with market expectations. It was the slowest on record for the period, holding the view that the Brazilian labor market remained tight at the turn of the year despite the prolonged period of high base rates by the central bank and slowdown in growth. The unemployed population remained broadly unchanged from the earlier moving quarter at 5.9 million, and the employed population also remained loosely unchanged at 102.7 million. In the meantime, average wages grew by 2.8% on the quarter to R$3,65 monthly. This was equivalent to a 5.4% annual growth rate, ahead of the inflation rate in the period.
2026-03-05
Brazil Unemployment Falls to Historic Low in December
Brazil’s unemployment rate fell to 5.1% in the three months to December 2025, down from 5.2% in November and matching market expectations. This was the lowest reading in the series since 2012. The number of unemployed people stood at about 5.5 million. Job creation was led by commerce and by public administration, education, health, and social services. For 2025 as a whole, the unemployment rate declined to 5.6% from 6.6% in 2024, marking the lowest annual average since 2012. The average number of unemployed people fell year-on-year to 6.2 million from 7.2 million.
2026-01-30
Brazil Unemployment Rate Falls to Record Low
The unemployment rate in Brazil fell to 5.2% in the moving quarter ending in November of 2025, a record low, dropping from the 5.6% in the three months to August and compared to expectations of a softer decrease to 5.4%. The data extended the period of a strengthening Brazilian labor market despite elevated real interest rates faced by consumers and businesses, adding room for the central bank to remain hawkish should the country's disinflation progress stall. Net unemployment fell 7.2% from the previous moving quarter to 5.6 million, the lowest on record. In the meantime, net employment rose 0.6% to 103 million, also a record high. The underutilization rate fell by 0.6 percentage points to a fresh low of 13.5%. In the meantime, average wages rose by R$65 to R$3,547 monthly.
2025-12-30