The article aims at studying the performance of the three largest metropolitan regions in Northeast Brazil - Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador - in the process of absorption, retaining and sending out migrants in the period 1990-2010. We analyze the profile of immigrants and out-migrants in the three metropolitan regions, by sex and sector of activity in which they are involved. Emphasis is given to the observation of return migration at the three metropolitan regions, identifying former place of residence for immigrants and the places of destination for out-migrants, detailing their profile according to the above mentioned characteristics.
Migration; Northeast Brazil; Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza; Metropolitan Region of Recife; Metropolitan Region of Salvador