The number of workers employed in the Brazilian industry remained stable in January, compared with a month earlier, the seasonally adjusted series, made the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

Compared to January 2013, however, manufacturing employment fell 2%, the 28 negative result in this type of confrontation and more intense since December 2009, according to the survey. In 12 months, manufacturing employment fell 1.2%.

The survey also showed that the number of hours paid in industry rose 0.1% in January, compared with the preceding month. Compared to the same month in 2013, however, there was a decrease of 2.1% at the beginning of the year.

The IBGE also noted that the actual payroll was down 0.5% from December 2013 to January 2014, discounting seasonal effects. In the first month of last year, the real payroll rose 3.7%.