Brazil's AI-driven labor market reshapes jobs and skills demand

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in Brazil is reshaping the labor market. A study by the Brazilian Institute of Economics (FGV IBRE) finds that about 30 million workers are in occupations exposed to generative AI, with young employees (18‑29) feeling the strongest impact. Junior developer positions are declining as AI tools take over routine coding tasks, and companies now look for professionals who can develop, supervise, and complement AI systems. "Estamos assistindo ao desaparecimento gradual do papel tradicional do desenvolvedor júnior," said Rolando Lora, head of generative AI research at Jala University, emphasizing the need for critical thinking, problem‑solving and collaborative skills.

A separate survey by ITS Rio, the Volkswagen Group Foundations and Arymax shows that only 21.3 % of Brazilians possess basic digital competencies, such as sending an e‑mail, while up to 37 % of workers could be affected by AI‑driven changes in the coming years. The reports call for expanded digital education and training programmes, including Jala University's new online software engineering cohort with full scholarships, to prepare the workforce for the evolving digital economy.