Brazil agribusiness employment falls 1% in Q1 2026

Brazil's agribusiness sector employed 27.79 million people in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 1% decrease (approximately 267,300 workers) compared to the same period in 2025. While the overall sector saw a contraction, the primary production segment—activities within rural properties—grew by 2.5%, adding roughly 190,000 workers.

This growth in primary production helped offset losses in other segments. Agribusiness services lost 308,000 workers (-2.9%), agro-industries decreased by 148,500 (-3.1%), and the input sector saw a 1.2% decline. Within primary production, notable increases in employment were seen in aquaculture (40.8%), coffee (26.9%), poultry (26.4%), and swine (18.7%).

The data, produced by Cepea in partnership with the CNA, also highlights a shift in workforce demographics. The number of workers with higher education rose by 1.6%, reflecting an increasing average level of schooling in the sector. Additionally, while employment fell for both genders, the decline among women (0.5%) was less severe than among men (1.2%), leading to an increase in female participation in the agribusiness workforce.