Data from the National Household Sample Survey (Continuous PNAD) released this Friday (17th) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), indicate that the rate of Brazilians employed in the accommodation and food group – in which bars and restaurants represent about 85% – showed an increase of 3% (about 156 thousand people).
The sector was the only one that recorded growth in the number of employed persons, given the reduction of persons employed in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, forest production, fishing and aquaculture (-3.1%) and public administration, defense, social security, education, human health and social services (-1.9%); the others remained stable. Data refer to the quarters of November, December 2022 and January 2023) and consider formal and informal jobs.
The average salary of workers in the sector, according to PNAD, also grew: in the quarter in which the survey was carried out, income was R$1,870, while in the previous period (August, September and October), they earned around R$ 1755.
Despite the improvement in the number of people employed in the sector, there is one factor that still represents a challenge for bar and restaurant owners: the availability of qualified people to enter the job market.
“Bars and restaurants are the biggest employers in the country, being largely responsible for the entry of many young people into the job market. Even so, the sector faces a major challenge in finding qualified labor. But despite the difficult scenario with this slight increase in unemployment, the sector continues to give a positive response”, emphasizes Paulo Solmucci, executive president of the Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants (Abrasel).
According to a recent survey carried out by Abrasel with 1,477 entrepreneurs across the country, 19% increased their staff in January, while 33% expect to hire labor throughout 2023.
Still according to the Continuous PNAD, the general index of unemployed people is at 8.4%, a number higher than the index of the previous quarter – which was 8.3%.
Scenario in the formal market
On Thursday, March 9, data released by the Ministry of Labor through the new Caged, referring to January, show that the away-from-home food sector had a slight retraction: -0.25%, which represents a negative balance of 3,068 jobs. The drop was largely influenced by the state of São Paulo, where 2,742 vacancies were closed.
Source: Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants (Abrasel)1