Portugal and Brazil grapple with labor shortages amid growth challenges

In Portugal, a persistent shortage of workers is limiting the expansion of companies across multiple sectors. The construction industry lacks between 80,000 and 90,000 laborers, which could cause project delays, while agriculture needs roughly 5,000 additional staff and industry requires thousands of qualified workers. Tourism also reports a significant gap, and the commercial and services sectors face difficulties in specific skill areas, prompting occasional reductions in activity.

In Brazil, a PwC Global CEO Survey found that 41 % of retail CEOs consider the lack of qualified labour the main threat to their businesses in 2025, outweighing cyber‑risk, inflation and macro‑instability. In response, the Faculdade do Comércio de São Paulo (FAC‑SP) and the Instituto para Desenvolvimento do Varejo (IDV) announced a partnership to expand professional training for retail workers. The collaboration will give IDV‑linked companies access to FAC‑SP’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses covering commercial, financial, logistical, HR, marketing and sales management, delivered in on‑site, online and hybrid formats.