FX.co ★ Brazil Jobless Rate Holds at Record Low in August

Brazil's unemployment rate was recorded at 5.6% in the rolling quarter ending August 2025, maintaining the same rate as the previous quarter and meeting market forecasts. This figure represents the lowest unemployment level since the data series commenced in 2012. The rate was notably lower by 0.6 percentage points compared to the prior quarter, which stood at 6.2%, and showed a 1.0 percentage point decrease from the same period the previous year, which was 6.6%. The number of unemployed individuals fell to an unprecedented low of 6.1 million, reflecting a 9% reduction over the quarter, equating to 605,000 fewer unemployed persons, and a 14.6% decline year-on-year, accounting for 1 million fewer people. Moreover, the composite underutilization rate also reached a historic low of 14.1%, decreasing by 0.8 percentage points quarterly and 1.9 percentage points annually, encompassing 16 million individuals. Employment growth was primarily observed in the sectors of agriculture, livestock, fishing, and aquaculture, which saw a 4.4% increase equating to 333,000 additional jobs, and in public administration, defense, education, and health, which grew by 1.7% or 323,000 jobs. The average real earnings rose to R$3,488, remaining stable compared to the last quarter and marking a 3.3% increase on an annual basis.