Brazil sees surge in salaries and flexible hiring in 2026

In 2026 Brazil’s labor market showed strong wage growth for high‑tech roles. The Robert Half Salary Guide reported that specialists in artificial intelligence saw salary offers rise up to 30%, data scientists up 25%, and cybersecurity experts also experienced notable increases. Unemployment stood at 4.3%, the lowest in recent years, while the Selic rate fell from its 2023 peak of 12.75%, supporting corporate investment in talent.

Meanwhile, flexible employment arrangements expanded to 29.1% of formal jobs between January and May 2026, according to the Novo Caged data. Of the net 767,326 formal positions added, 223,425 were non‑typical contracts such as temporary work, apprenticeships, intermittent contracts and part‑time roles. The period recorded 11.7 million admissions and 10.9 million dismissals, with 5.27 million workers on non‑standard contracts by May. Industry leaders say the trend reflects a strategic shift toward agility in workforce planning.