Brazil's jobless rate falls in July, hits new record low

SAO PAULO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Brazil's jobless rate fell for the fourth consecutive time in the three months through July renewing the lowest level since the current data series began in 2012, statistics agency IBGE said on Tuesday.

Unemployment in Latin America's largest economy dropped to 5.6%, down from 5.8% in the previous reading and slightly below the 5.7% median forecast in a Reuters poll of economists.

The number of employed people also hit a new record, rising 1.2% in the quarter to 102.4 million, according to IBGE.

July's figures support the active and positive momentum in the labor market, IBGE analyst William Kratochwill said in a statement, adding that people are "truly entering the labor market, as evidenced by the record level of employment."

Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said during an event on Tuesday that the average economic growth during Lula's term will be close to 3% per year, with unemployment at historic lows.

The jobless rate has hovered near historic lows for months, reflecting resilience in the labor market despite tight monetary policy, and raising concerns about potential inflationary pressures.

Brazil's central bank will announce its next policy decision on Wednesday, after halting a tightening cycle in July that had lifted the benchmark interest rate to 15%, its highest in nearly two decades.

The release of July's jobless data, initially scheduled for late August, was delayed due to technical adjustments, according to IBGE. Unemployment figures for August are expected to be announced at the end of this month.