Brazil youth employment challenges

In late July 2026 a joint study by Junior Achievement Brazil and ManpowerGroup began mapping obstacles faced by 18‑29‑year‑olds in Brazil and 14 other Latin American, Caribbean and Canadian markets. The survey collected responses from young people, employers and HR professionals to identify barriers to entry, retention and career progression, and highlighted the need for better preparation for first‑job interviews across the region.

A week later new data showed that illegal child labor afflicted 77 % of employed Brazilian adolescents aged 14‑17, while a separate study of women 19‑29 revealed that early motherhood cut professional opportunities roughly in half. Both findings underscored deepening gaps in youth labour market outcomes and called for integrated public policies to address child labour, teenage pregnancy and broader employability issues.