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Even with a diploma or technical course, 57% of Brazilians say it is almost impossible to get a job, according to a survey by FGV.
The feeling that the Brazilian labor market is increasingly closed isn't just an impression. A survey released by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) revealed that 57,3% of workers say it will be difficult or very difficult to get a job in Brazil in 2025, even with official unemployment figures indicating improvement. This data highlights a worrying reality: the difficulty in finding a job affects not only those with low levels of education, but also Brazilians with technical courses and university degrees.
A country that grows but does not generate opportunities
The survey, carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Economics of FGV (Ibre/FGV), shows that, despite the unemployment rate having fallen to 5,6%, the lowest level in 13 years, according to the IBGE, families' perception is that employment is increasingly scarce.
This is because the market is more demanding, with fewer formal vacancies and a high concentration of opportunities in low-paying sectors.
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While the number of informal jobs continues to grow, jobs with formal contracts and benefits remain practically stable.
"There's a widespread sense of insecurity. Even those who work fear losing their jobs or not being able to find another one quickly," explained economist Rodolpho Tobler, coordinator of the FGV survey.
Even those who studied face difficulties
One of the most alarming points of the survey is the difficulty of relocation reaches all levels of educationProfessionals with technical degrees or undergraduate degrees—traditionally more valued—report facing long search times, slow selection processes, and lower salaries than they expected.
According to FGV, the oversupply of skilled labor and low industrial growth have created a bottleneck in the market. Engineers, maintenance technicians, administrators, and IT professionals have faced fierce competition for positions. In many cases, the salaries offered are up to 30% lower than those recorded before the pandemic.
"Qualifications are no longer a differentiator; they've become a basic requirement. The problem now is that there are more qualified people than available positions," Tobler noted.
Young people and senior professionals suffer more
The survey also points out that the two age extremes of the market are the most penalizedAmong young people aged 18 to 24, 68% report difficulty getting their first job, while among workers over 50, 61% say they face rejection due to their age.
Companies have prioritized "intermediate" profiles—professionals between 25 and 45 years old with recent experience. This trend has pushed young people into temporary jobs and older people into informal employment, reinforcing the precariousness of employment relationships.
Sectors that are still hiring
Despite the challenging scenario, there are niches that continue to hire. According to FGV, the essential services (such as transportation, food and health) was the one that created the most vacancies in 2025, followed by agribusiness and construction.
Meanwhile, sectors such as technology, energy and finance are hiring less, in part due to the global economic slowdown and still-high interest rates in Brazil.
The Ministry of Labor estimates that around 1,2 million new jobs are expected to be created by the end of 2025, but most of them should be concentrated in medium or low-paying areas.
“The challenge is to generate quality jobs. The GDP growth does not automatically translate into formal and well-paid opportunities,” said Minister Luiz Marinho at a recent press conference.
The gap between actual unemployment and perceived unemployment
The apparent contradiction between official data and popular perception has an explanation. The IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) measures unemployment based only on those actively seeking work.
FGV captures the feeling of difficulty, which includes discouraged workers — those who have given up looking for a job because they don’t believe they will find one.
Currently, the country has more than 4 million Brazilians in this situation, a number that has remained practically stable since 2022. This explains why, even with positive indicators, the feeling on the streets is that unemployment remains high.
The weight of informality
Another point that worsens the perception is informality. According to the IBGE, almost 40% of the Brazilian workforce works without a formal contract, whether as a freelancer, informal salesperson, or temporary service provider. Although these workers are not unemployed, they face a lack of job security, low income, and a lack of benefits such as vacation pay and the 13th salary.
Economist Alexandre Schwartsman believes this is the harshest aspect of the current market: "Brazil has managed to reduce unemployment, but at the expense of more precarious jobs. The feeling of vulnerability is real, especially among the middle and working classes."
The new race for skills
The search for professional advantages has led thousands of Brazilians to invest in refresher courses and technical certifications.
According to the National Industrial Training Service (Senai), demand for fast-track training grew 22% in 2025, with a focus on areas such as industrial maintenance, electricity and automation.
However, experts warn that education alone is not enough. Training must be combined with public policies that encourage productive investment and the creation of quality jobs. "Training more people is important, but without a strong industry and accessible credit, the market won't absorb this workforce," Tobler concluded.
Prospects for 2026
The market is expected to remain sluggish in the coming months. Analysts at FGV and the Central Bank project modest growth in the number of formal jobs, with a more consistent recovery only beginning in 2026—if interest rates decline and the global economy stabilizes.
Meanwhile, Brazilian workers continue to live with the paradox of a country that grows but does not employ.
For many, a diploma and personal effort no longer guarantee opportunity. And the statistic—57%—with more than half of the population saying it's difficult to find work—is a reflection of a market that has yet to fully recover from the scars left by the pandemic and the economic slowdown of recent years.
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