Brazil faces chronic labour shortage as 80% of firms struggle to hire

A ManpowerGroup Global Talent Shortage Survey 2026, which interviewed 39,063 employers in 41 countries between 1 Oct and 31 Oct 2025, found that 80 % of Brazilian firms report difficulty filling open positions. The figure slipped slightly from a peak of 81 % in 2025 but remains far above the global average of 72 %. Larger companies are hit hardest – 90 % of firms with 1,000‑4,999 employees struggle to hire, while smaller firms report rates between 72 % and 83 %.

The sectors most affected are professional, scientific and technical services (85 % reporting shortages) and information services (83 %). Regionally, São Paulo leads with 88 % of employers citing difficulty, followed by Minas Gerais (85 %), Rio de Janeiro (80 %) and Paraná (74 %).

Employers cite a lack of skills in artificial‑intelligence model development, AI literacy, IT/Data, front‑office/customer service and marketing/sales as the hardest to source. To mitigate the gap, 44 % are investing in upskilling/reskilling of current staff, while 25 % seek new talent pools and 23 % offer more flexible locations.

Demographically, Brazil’s unemployment rate fell to a historic low of 5.6 % (Mar‑May 2024) and the share of 15‑29‑year‑olds declined from 36 % (2011) to 28.5 % today, shrinking the pool of entry‑level workers. The chronic shortage raises operational costs, pressures wages and may delay investment, signalling a broader economic challenge.