Brazil youth education and employment trends reveal significant barriers

A new survey conducted by Senai and Sesi, through Nexus, indicates that 33% of Brazilian youth aged 16 to 29 aspire to obtain a university degree. However, many face significant obstacles, with 31% describing these barriers as difficult or very difficult to overcome. Approximately 21% of this age group is currently neither studying nor working.

Key findings highlight that economic necessity is a primary driver for school dropout rates. About 25% of respondents reported stopping their studies to work or to help supplement family income. This trend is particularly pronounced among Black youth, where the rate of dropping out due to work necessity reaches 32%, compared to a 25% average.

In the state of Goiás, data from the IMDS shows a 39.1% reduction in the proportion of women aged 18 to 24 who are neither studying nor working between 2019 and 2025. This represents a drop from 34.8% to 21.2%, marking the second-largest proportional reduction in the country during this period.