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Santa Catarina Faces Worker Shortages and Bets on Job Fairs to Fill Thousands of Open Positions in Industry, Logistics, and Construction, While Maintaining the Lowest Unemployment Rate in Brazil.
With the lowest unemployment rate in the country and thousands of open positions without candidates, Santa Catarina has turned to a traditional model to accelerate hiring: the job fairs organized by the National Employment System (Sine).
In 2025, these initiatives took place in more than 20 municipalities, featuring immediate interviews and direct referrals, especially for industry, logistics, and construction.
The growth of the economy above the national average further increases the demand for professionals, while the unemployment rate in the state is only 2.2%, according to IBGE.
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Job Fairs Mobilize Cities and Connect Companies with Candidates
The job drives organized by Sine in 2025 served 3,500 workers and resulted in 9,000 referrals for jobs.
Each person can compete for up to three opportunities.
Companies take advantage of the events to interview candidates on-site, reducing selection steps.
On several occasions, the number of available positions exceeded the number of interested candidates, showing the imbalance between supply and demand.
The fairs take place in central locations, with extended hours and, in some cases, on Saturdays.
To expand its reach, Sine utilizes the Sine Móvel, a bus adapted for services in public squares and distant neighborhoods. Collaboration with local municipalities and associations helps attract attendees and provide logistical support for the actions.
Unemployment at Historic Low Pressures Productive Sectors
Santa Catarina recorded 2.2% unemployment in the 2nd quarter of 2025, the lowest rate in Brazil, according to IBGE.
This rate is considered close to full employment, making it challenging to find available professionals.
The shortage particularly affects areas that require practical experience, such as machine operation, industrial activities, logistics functions, and construction-related occupations.
In production hubs in the interior, companies report difficulties in filling shifts and maintaining complete teams.
This competition for labor has increased turnover and raised wage costs in some segments.
Caged Shows Strong Hiring Momentum
Data from the General Register of Employed and Unemployed (New Caged) indicates that Santa Catarina opened 82,993 formal vacancies from January to July 2025.
The positive balance included 2,773 positions in July, keeping the state among the largest job creators in the country.
The services sector leads in hiring volume, followed by industry. According to business owners, the difficulty does not lie in opening new positions but in filling them in a timely manner.
Hence the reliance on job fairs as a direct channel to reduce the time between initial contact and signing the employment contract.
Government Supports the Strategy
The Secretary of State for Industry, Commerce and Services, Silvio Dreveck, advocates for the model as an effective way to address the current situation.
“Job fairs are a very useful tool to meet this new demand for labor. Companies are hiring in large numbers because there are many open positions, so it is necessary to carry out more robust actions, with greater capacity to serve, and initiatives to attract workers,” he stated.
In addition to the traveling fairs, Sine maintains daily service in fixed units, facilitating job placements, issuing documents, and providing training programs.
At the end of August, actions were planned in cities like Joinville, São José, Porto Belo, and Laguna, always in partnership with municipal administrations.
Over 9,000 Job Openings in the State
The Sine dashboard indicated at the end of August approximately 9,900 job vacancies available statewide.
The opportunities range from operational functions to technical and higher-level positions, primarily in industrial and service areas.
The number of postings varies daily as companies register new demands or make hires.
At the job fairs, it is common to see long interview lines throughout the day.
Managers and HR teams travel to assess candidates, conduct tests, and, when possible, refer them for pre-employment exams.
For workers, this format brings together different companies in the same space, saves time, and increases chances of reemployment.
Training and Retention at the Center of the Agenda
The shortage of labor has led companies to invest in rapid training programs and partnerships with training entities.
Furthermore, more attractive benefit packages and career plans are being used to reduce turnover and retain professionals.
In sectors like welding and machine operation, the lack of specialized technicians remains a constant barrier.
Despite efforts, the state continues to face challenges in balancing economic growth and professional availability.
With the unemployment rate at a minimum level and thousands of positions open, the central question now is: to what extent will job fairs be able to sustain the growing demand for workers in industry, logistics, and construction?
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