Discouraged workers: Brazilians who gave up looking for work
- Data for: Aug 2026
- Aug 2025: 2.7 million (−11.9%)
- Source: IBGE, PNAD Contínua (SIDRA table 6438)
Brazil had 2.4 million discouraged workers in the quarter ending Aug 2026, according to the PNAD Contínua. A year earlier (Aug 2025), the figure was 2.7 million (−11.9%).
Series used: discouraged workers (aged 14 or over) (PNAD Contínua, SIDRA 6438). Data updated on .
Discouraged workers in the extended labor force
Discouraged workers equal 2.1% of the people who are in the labor force or discouraged (Aug 2026). IBGE calculates the rate; see also the underutilization rate.
Value at the end of each year
| Year | Discouraged workers (aged 14 or over) |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through Aug 2026) | 2.4 million |
| 2025 | 2.6 million |
| 2024 | 3.0 million |
| 2023 | 3.4 million |
| 2022 | 3.9 million |
| 2021 | 4.7 million |
| 2020 | 5.7 million |
| 2019 | 4.6 million |
| 2018 | 4.6 million |
| 2017 | 4.2 million |
| 2016 | 3.8 million |
| 2015 | 2.6 million |
Analysis on this topic
How IBGE defines it
Discouraged workers are people outside the labor force who would like to work and were available, but did not look for work because they believed they would not find any (for lack of experience or qualifications, for being too young or too old, or because there is no work where they live). They are not counted as unemployed.
How to read the numbers
Values are rolling quarters: each point summarizes the three months ending in the month shown, which smooths out month-to-month swings. The PNAD Contínua is a household sample survey, so the figures have a margin of error and IBGE may revise them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest value of "Discouraged workers"?
Discouraged workers (aged 14 or over): 2.4 million, for Aug 2026. A year earlier (Aug 2025): 2.7 million.
What does "Discouraged workers (aged 14 or over)" mean?
Discouraged workers are people outside the labor force who would like to work and were available, but did not look for work because they believed they would not find any (for lack of experience or qualifications, for being too young or too old, or because there is no work where they live). They are not counted as unemployed.
Where does the "Discouraged workers" data come from and when is it updated?
The data come from IBGE, PNAD Contínua (SIDRA table 6438). This page shows the figure for Aug 2026 and the base was updated on Oct 26, 2026. The source may revise numbers already published.
Download the data and cite it
Full series in open format: CSV. Unit: thousand people (rolling quarter ending in the month).
Updated . How to cite: dadobruto.com. Discouraged workers (aged 14 or over). Data: IBGE, PNAD Contínua (SIDRA table 6438). Updated Oct 26, 2026. https://dadobruto.com/en/brazil-in-numbers/discouraged-workers
License: You may copy and republish the data and charts, including commercially, under the CC BY 4.0 license. The condition is to credit "dadobruto.com" and, when published online, to link to dadobruto.com or to the page the data came from. The original numbers follow the rules of IBGE, PNAD Contínua (SIDRA table 6438).
Also searched as: discouraged workers, gave up looking for a job.