Bahia has the highest unemployment rate in the country, while Santa Catarina records the lowest rate, says IBGE
The unemployment rate rose in 15 of the 27 units of the Federation in the 1st quarter of 2026, according to data released this Thursday (May 14, 2026) by IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics).
Another 12 states registered stability in comparison with the quarter ending in December 2025. No unit in the Federation showed a drop in the unemployment rate in the period.
Bahia has the highest rate in the country, with an unemployment rate of 10.9%. Next come Pernambuco (10.8%) and Piauí (10.2%).
At the other end, Santa Catarina records the lowest unemployment rate in Brazil, at 3.0%. Rondônia and Mato Grosso appear next, both with 3.5%.
In the quarterly comparison, the biggest increases were recorded in Pernambuco, where the rate rose 2.5 percentage points, in Piauí, with an increase of 2.2 percentage points, and in Paraná, with an increase of 1.6 percentage points.
According to IBGE, the increase in unemployment at the beginning of the year is influenced by seasonal factors, mainly by the closure of temporary vacancies opened at the end of the previous year.
INFORMALITY
The informality rate ranged from 25.3% in Santa Catarina to 57.8% in Maranhão. Pará and Piauí also recorded high rates, both above 54%.
The lowest levels of informality, in addition to Santa Catarina, were observed in the Federal District and São Paulo.
The survey considers workers without a formal contract, domestic workers without a formal contract, employers without a CNPJ and self-employed workers without formal registration.
PERFORMANCE
The average real income of workers remained stable in most parts of the country. The highest values were recorded in the Federal District, São Paulo and Paraná.
The lowest average yields were observed in Maranhão and Ceará.
The IBGE states that the job market remains resilient, despite the slowdown observed at the beginning of 2026.
