Rio de Janeiro – Industrial employment rose 1.1% in November 2009, the greatest expansion since January 2001. The number of industrial workers, however, dropped 4.1% over November 2008, according to the Industrial Labour and Employment Research, disclosed today (12) by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE). There was expansion of employment for the fifth month running, resulting in 2.7% gain in the period.
However, when compared to the same periods in 2008, the indexes remain negative: -4.1% over November last year, -5.5% in the accumulated result for the year and -5.2% over the last 12 months. The index has maintained a descending trajectory that began in August 2008 (3.0%).
In a comparison between November 2009 and November 2008, industrial employment recorded the twelfth running negative result (-4.1%), with reduction of personnel in 13 of 14 areas investigated and 16 of 18 industrial sectors. São Paulo (-3.0%) exerted the greatest negative impact in the global rate, followed by Minas Gerais (-9.1%), the North and Midwest (-6.5%) and Paraná (-5.5%).
The detailing of the figures of the IBGE research show that in the state of São Paulo the main negative influences came from means of transport (reduction of 13.6%), machinery and equipment (-9.3%) and metal products (-11.3%). In Minas Gerais, where the drop was 28.3%, the garment sector was responsible for the greatest negative impact, with food and beverages (-7.1%), followed by basic metallurgy (-13.1%).
In the North and Midwest, the main losses were lumber (-29.6%) and machinery and electronic and communications equipment (-18.4%). In Paraná, other transformation industry products (-19.7%) and lumber (-17.1%) exerted the main negative pressures.
The rate of industrial employment accumulated in the year was also 5.5% negative. There were reductions in 14 investigated areas, especially São Paulo, Minas Gerais, the North and Midwest and Rio Grande do Sul. By sector, also in this kind of index, industrial employment dropped in 17 of the 18 sectors researched, with pulp and paper being the only sector with a positive rate.
With regard to the previous month, the positive evolution of employment indices and working hours paid over the months reflects the greater dynamism of productive activity. However, in comparison with the same period last year, the results remain negative, although at a slower rate of fall than previous months.
In November 2009, the industrial sector expanded the number of working hours paid by 0.9%, when compared to the previous month, totalling six expansions running and accumulating growth of 3.3% in the period. With these results, the quarterly average rose 0.8% in November, confirming the growth trajectory that began in August last year.
*Translated by Mark Ament
