Fear of Unemployment Decreased in December, Says Brazil’s Industry Confederation

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A survey released on Wednesday January 8th, by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) shows that there was a 2.1 point drop in the unemployment fear index when comparing the quarters ended in September to December 2019.

With the drop in December, the index stood at 56.1 points. Despite the drop, it remains above the historical average of 50.1 points.

The survey interviewed 2,000 individuals in 127 municipalities between November 29th and December 2nd, 2019. The index ranges from zero to 100 points. The lower the indicator, the less fear there is of unemployment.

According to the CNI, the result in December 2019 was also above that recorded in the same month in 2018, when the index stood at 55 points.

In the variation throughout the year, the fear of unemployment index recorded an increase of 4.3 points in the first half of 2019. In the second half, the indicator recovered and accumulated a 3.2 point increase until the end of the year.

“Fear of unemployment remains highest among Brazilians with family incomes up to one minimum wage. In this income bracket, the indicator rose 0.9 points over September and reached 69.7 points in December, well above the 37.4 points recorded among those earning over five minimum wages,” said the CNI.

Women

The fear of unemployment is also greater among women. The variation between men reached the highest level in December since March 2005. This occurred because, among women, the index rose 0.6 points in comparison to September and increased to 63.2 points in December.

Among them, the indicator dropped five points to 48.5 points, according to the survey, which interviewed 2,000 people in 127 municipalities between November 29th and December 2nd, 2019.

The survey also shows that Brazilians are less satisfied with life. In December, the survey found that the life satisfaction index fell 0.7 points compared to September and stood at 68.3 points last month. The index is below the historical average, which is 69.6 points.

Brazilians with a higher family income and higher education levels show greater satisfaction with life. “Among those with higher education, the indicator reached 70.5 points, well above the 65.3 points recorded among those with up to the fourth grade of elementary school”.

Among those with a family income above five minimum wages, the index stood at 73.1 points in December, 8.6 points above the 64.5 points recorded among those with a family income of up to one minimum wage,” said the CNI.