Unemployment in Brazil increased 27.6% in four months of the pandemic, informed this Wednesday (23) the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics).
In May, the unemployed population was 10.1 million, up and increased to 12.9 million in August. In comparison with July, the unemployment rate in the country rose from 13.1% to 13.6%.
The North and Northeast regions were the most affected by the crisis, with increases of 14.3% and 10.3%, respectively. The only one to show a drop in unemployment was the South, with a 2.3% decrease.
In the same period, the employed population shrank 2.7%. Considering only the variation between July and August, however, there was an expansion of 0.8%. As a result, the number of employed Brazilians reached 84.4 million, according to Pnad Covid.
In addition to the increase in unemployment, the survey also pointed out that the percentage of households that received some aid linked to the pandemic fell from 44.1% to 43.9% between July and August.
In early September, President Jair Bolsonaro announced that emergency aid would be reduced to R $ 300 for four months. The amount represents half of that granted in the first five months of the program.
With the decrease and the subsequent end of emergency aid, the unemployment rate should increase, since many Brazilians must feel encouraged to seek occupation in a scenario of loosening of the restrictive circulation measures imposed by the pandemic.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon