Inocência emerges as Brazilian construction hub via Arauco investment

The city of Inocência, located in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, has emerged as a major hub for construction job growth during the first half of 2026. According to a report by the Brazilian Chamber of the Construction Industry (CBIC), the municipality ranked among the top cities for job creation when measured proportionally to its population.

This economic surge is driven by the Sucuriú Project, an initiative by the Chilean manufacturer Arauco. The project involves a planned investment of US$ 4.6 billion to build a cellulose factory with an annual production capacity of 3.5 million tons. The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2028 and could employ up to 14,000 workers during peak construction phases. Through June, Inocência recorded a surplus of 3,810 jobs.

Nationally, the construction sector saw significant growth in the first half of 2026, particularly in infrastructure, which created 64,793 formal jobs. This represents a 30.3% increase compared to the previous year, fueled by concessions, public-private partnerships, and sanitation investments.