The article analyzes late entry into the labor market among Brazilian youth, using two demographic techniques: the singulate mean age, and survival tables. The data basis used is the Monthly Employment Survey (PME) carried out and published by the Brazilian Census Office (IBGE). The analysis considers six metropolitan areas (São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Recife) in 1983 and 2001. The findings show that men enter the labor market later than women, even though they begin their professional life before women. There is also evidence of changes in the age pattern of transition, as there was a fall in the number of people under age 17 entering in the labor market.
Youth; Labor market; First job
