The unemployment rate in Brazil averaged 5.8% in the moving quarter to February of 2026, slightly higher than market expectations of 5.7% but still marking the lowest for the period on record. The figure compared to the 6.8% rate in the corresponding period of the previous year and the 5.2% in the moving quarter ending November of last year, which seasonally sees lower unemployment. source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE)

Unemployment Rate in Brazil increased to 5.80 percent in February from 5.40 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Brazil averaged 9.70 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 5.80 percent in February from 5.40 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Brazil is expected to be 5.90 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
2026-03-05 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 5.4% 5.1% 5.4% 5.3%
2026-03-27 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 5.8% 5.4% 5.7% 5.8%
2026-04-30 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 5.8% 5.90%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 102.15 102.67 Million Feb 2026
Employment Rate 58.40 58.70 percent Feb 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 61.90 62.10 percent Feb 2026
Unemployed Persons 6.24 5.85 Million Feb 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.80 5.40 percent Feb 2026
Wages 3652.00 3623.00 BRL/Month Jan 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 3485.00 3426.00 BRL/Month Jan 2026


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
5.80 5.40 14.90 5.10 2012 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Brazil Unemployment Rate Comes Above Expectations
The unemployment rate in Brazil averaged 5.8% in the moving quarter to February of 2026, slightly higher than market expectations of 5.7% but still marking the lowest for the period on record. The figure compared to the 6.8% rate in the corresponding period of the previous year and the 5.2% in the moving quarter ending November of last year, which seasonally sees lower unemployment.
2026-03-27
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