The Brazilian unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2025 (5.6%) was the lowest in the time series started in 2012. Compared to the second quarter of 2025, the unemployment rate fell
in 2 out of 27 Federation Units and remained stable in the others. The highest rates were in Pernambuco (10.0%), Amapá (8.7%) and Bahia (8.5%) and the lowest ones were in Santa Catarina (2.3%), Mato Grosso (2.3%), Rondônia and Espírito Santo (both with 2.6%).

The unemployment rate (5.6%) was 4.5% for men and 6.9% for women in the third quarter of 2025. By color or race, this rate was below the national average for white persons (4.4%) and above that for black (6.9%) and brown persons (6.3%).

The unemployment rate for people with incomplete secondary education (9.8%) was higher than that of the other schooling levels analyzed. For people with incomplete higher education, the rate was 5.8%, almost twice that seen for those with complete higher education (3.0%).

In the third quarter of 2025, the composite underutilization rate (percentage of unemployed persons, time-related underemployed persons worked and those in the potential workforce in relation to the expanded workforce) was 13.9%. Piauí (29.1%) had the highest rate, with Sergipe (26.5%) and Bahia (26.2%) coming next. The lowest rates were in Santa Catarina (4.4%), Mato Grosso (6.0%) and Espírito Santo (6.1%).

In the third quarter of 2025, there were 1.2 million people who were looking for a job for two years or more, the smallest number in the time series for a third quarter since 2014. This indicator fell 17.8% compared to the third quarter of 2024.

The percentage of discouraged persons (in relation to the population in the workforce or discouraged) in Brazil in the third quarter of 2025 was 2.4%. Maranhão (9.3%), Piauí (7.9%) and Alagoas (7.8%) had the highest percentages, while the lowest ones were in Santa Catarina (0.3%) and Mato Grosso (0.7%). Next came Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul (all three with 0.8%).

In Brazil, the percentage of those employed with a formal contract in the private sector was 74.4% in the third quarter of 2025. The highest percentages of those employed with a formal contract were in Santa Catarina (88.0%), São Paulo (82.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (82.0%), and the lowest ones were in Maranhão (51.9%), Piauí (52.4%) and Paraíba (55.3%).

The percentage of the Brazilian self-employed population was 25.3%. The highest percentages were in Maranhão (33.1%), Pará (29.9%) and Amapá (29.1%) and the lowest ones were in the Federal District (17.5%), Acre (19.3%) and Goiás (21.5%).

The informality rate for Brazil was 37.8% of the employed population. The highest rates were in Maranhão (57.0%), Pará (56.5%) and Piauí (52.7%) and the lowest ones were in Santa Catarina (24.9%), Federal District (26.9%) and São Paulo (29.3%).

>The usual monthly real earnings were R$3,507. It was stable compared to the immediately previous quarter (R$3,497) and increased compared to the same quarter in 2024 (R$3,373). In the quarterly comparison, the South (R$ 4,036) and the Central-West (R$ 4,046) were the regions with a statistically significant increase in earnings, while the others remained stable. Compared to the third quarter of 2024, earnings grew in the Northeast, South and Central-West.

Between the second and the third quarter of 2025, the unemployment rate fell in 2 out of 27 Federation Units, remaining stable in the others. The highest rates were in Pernambuco (10.0%), Amapá (8.7%) and Bahia (8.5%) and the lowest ones were in Santa Catarina (2.3%), Mato Grosso (2.3%), Rondônia and Espírito Santo (both with 2.6%).

Unemployment rate, by FU (%) – Q2 and Q3 2025

Piauí has ​​the highest underutilization rate (29.1%) and Santa Catarina, the lowest one (4.4%)

In the third quarter of 2025, the composite underutilization rate of the workforce was 13.9%. Piauí (29.1%) had the highest rate, followed by Sergipe (26.5%) and Bahia (26.2%). The lowest rates were in Santa Catarina (4.4%), Mato Grosso (6.0%) and Espírito Santo (6.1%).

Composite underutilization rate of the workforce, by FU (%) – Q2 2025

Maranhão has the highest proportion of self-employed workers (33.1%) and the Federal District, the lowest one (17.5%)

The percentage of the self-employed population in Brazil was 25.3%. The highest percentages were in Maranhão (33.1%), Pará (29.9%) and Amapá (29.1%) and the lowest ones were in the Federal District (17.5%), Acre (19.3%) and Goiás (21.5%).

Percentage of self-employed persons, by FU (%) - Q3 2025

Maranhão has the lowest percentage of persons employed with a formal contract (51.9%) and Santa Catarina, the highest one (88.0%)

Among those employed in the private sector, 74.4% had a formal contract in the third quarter of 2025. The highest percentages of formal employees were in Santa Catarina (88.0%), São Paulo (82.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (82.0%) and the lowest ones were in Maranhão (51.9%), Piauí (52.4%) and Paraíba (55.3%).

Percentage of persons employed WITH a formal contract among those employed in the private sector, by FU (%) - Q3 2025

Earnings grow in the South and Central-West and remain stable in the other regions

In the third quarter of 2025, the real average earnings from all jobs usually received was estimated at R$3,507. It remained stable compared to the immediately previous quarter (R$3,497) and increased compared to the same quarter in 2024 (R$3,373).

In the quarterly comparison, the South (R$4,036) and the Central-West (R$4,046) were the regions with a statistically-significant increase in earnings, while the others remained stable. In relation to the third quarter of 2024, earnings grew in the Northeast (5.7%), South (8.4%) and Central-West (5.8%).

On the other hand, the usual real wage bill (R$354.6 billion) remained stable compared to the previous quarter and expanded compared to the third quarter of 2024. The Southeast showed the highest real wage bill throughout the time series (R$176.0 billion). In relation to the second quarter of 2025, the wage bill grew in the South and Central-West regions and remained stable in the other regions.

Maranhão (57.0%) has the highest informality rate and Santa Catarina (24.9%), the lowest one

The informality rate for Brazil was 37.8% of the employed population. The highest rates were in Maranhão (57.0%), Pará (56.5%) and Piauí (52.7%) and the lowest ones were in Santa Catarina (24.9%), Federal District (26.9%) and São Paulo (29.3%).

Informality rate of the employed population, by FU (%) - Q3 2025

In order to calculate the proxy of the employed population’s informality rate, the following populations are considered: workers in the private sector without a formal contract; domestic workers without a formal contract; employers without a CNPJ number; self-employed workers without a CNPJ number; and auxiliary family workers.

Unemployment declines in all ranges of period of job search compared to the third quarter of 2024

In the third quarter of 2025, the number of unemployed people in the four ranges of job search periods analyzed by the Continuous PNAD had reductions compared to the same quarter of the previous year, as shown in the following table.

Furthermore, two out of four ranges of period of job search showed their lowest numbers for a second quarter in the time series of the Continuous PNAD, which began in 2012. The exceptions were the initial range, of less than a month, which only showed the smallest contingent since 2015, and the range of 2 years or more, with the smallest contingent since 2014. In this longer period, 1.2 million people were looking for work for two years or more. This indicator fell 17.8% compared to the third quarter of 2024.

Maranhão has the highest percentage of discouraged persons (9.3%) and Santa Catarina, the lowest one (0.3%)

The percentage of discouraged persons (compared to the population in the workforce or discouraged) in the third quarter of 2025 in Brazil was 2.4%. Maranhão (9.3%), Piauí (7.9%) and Alagoas (7.8%) had the highest percentages of discouraged people, while the lowest ones were in Santa Catarina (0.3%) and Mato Grosso (0.7%).

Percentage of discouraged persons in the workforce or discouraged, by FU (%) - Q3 2025