By IANS/EFE,
Rio de Janeiro : Brazil’s economy generated upwards of 2.5 million new jobs in the first 11 months of this year, 7.7 percent more than during all of 2009, the labour ministry said.
The statistic covers only formal employment with benefits and social security contributions.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s job-creation target for 2010 was 2.5 million net new positions.
“The number of workers with signed contracts will be greater than 2.5 million in 2010, despite the job losses in December that always occur with the cancellation of temporary contracts,” Labour Minister Carlos Lupi told the media Thursday.
Job creation slowed significantly last month compared with October.
Lula, due to step down Jan 1 after two four-year terms, has presided over the creation of more than 15 million new jobs.
President-elect Dilma Rousseff, Lula’s long-time aide and political protege, has pledged to continue his policies and is retaining current Finance Minister Guido Mantega along with other members of the outgoing administration.