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Rio Grande do Sul is facing a serious labor shortage, which is affecting industries and commerce. Sectors such as construction and footwear production suffer from high turnover and difficulty in attracting qualified professionals.
In a scenario that has left businesspeople from various sectors on alert, the shortage of qualified labor is beginning to have a critical impact on the economy of Southern Brazil.
The difficulty of finding professionals for essential positions in the industry, construction and trade not only affects production, but also increases operating costs and imposes a slower pace on companies. Although the problem has been visible in recent years, it has worsened, according to recent data.
According to the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs), the third quarter of 2024 brought worrying data: around 27% of industrial entrepreneurs in the state stated that the lack or high cost of qualified workers is one of the main difficulties for the continuity of operations.
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This is the highest rate recorded since 2014, reflecting the worsening of the situation and placing the state on alert.
Strategic sectors face crisis
According to Zero Hour newspaper, civil construction is one of the areas most affected by the lack of professionals.
With high turnover and high employability levels, companies have difficulty retaining qualified workers in technical areas, such as finishing and electrical installation, which are essential for the progress of construction projects.
According to the president of the Civil Construction Industry Union of Rio Grande do Sul (Sinduscon-RS), Claudio Teitelbaum, the situation is so tense that many workers end up being fought over between companies in the same industry, leading to an increase in salaries and further encouraging the movement to change jobs in search of better conditions.
Within construction companies, the roles of bricklayers, carpenters and coating specialists have been the most affected, with a significant increase in costs.
Cyrela Goldsztein's engineering director, Gustavo Navarro, highlighted that the salary of a masonry worker, for example, has risen 30% in the last two years, highlighting the impact of this shortage on the sector.
Companies like MRV also face similar obstacles, especially in specialized activities, such as painting and plumbing, which are essential for completing projects.
A Chief Economist at Fecomércio-RS, Patrícia Palermo, also points out that commerce also faces challenges with the lack of candidates for temporary positions, especially during times of greater retail activity.
According to Palermo, many workers are not willing to take on temporary commitments or flexible hours, which restricts the possibilities for retail and creates a disconnect between the supply of vacancies and the demand for professionals.
The reasons for the shortage of workers
According to experts, the high turnover and the constant search for better salary conditions are factors that contribute to this labor shortage.
Skilled workers, especially younger ones, do not demonstrate the same loyalty to companies that was seen in previous generations.
Today, many prefer to change jobs, areas or even regions in search of new opportunities and challenges, a behavior that business owners and managers say is encouraged by salary competitiveness.
According to economist Maria Carolina Gullo, professor at the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), the heated job market generates a cycle of turnover that makes “human capital” more expensive in the state.
“These new generations are not afraid to change careers, and they are looking for competitive pay or even personal satisfaction,” explains Gullo, highlighting that the difficulty in retaining young people is one of the sector’s biggest obstacles.
This phenomenon leads many companies to spend even more on salaries and benefits to attract and retain qualified professionals.
Furthermore, the demographic transformations of Rio Grande do Sul also play a crucial role in this process.
According to the president of Fiergs, Claudio Bier, the state's population is aging faster than the national average, which reduces the number of young people available on the market.
According to him, the lack of effective programs to attract young people from other states and the prevalence of social assistance, which discourages formal work, are additional obstacles for the region's productive sector.
Small businesses and the impact of labor shortages
Another relevant factor is that the shortage mainly affects small companies.
Fiergs points out that 36,1% of small businesses face difficulties due to the lack of qualified labor, which leaves them at a disadvantage in the competition for professionals.
In contrast, medium and large companies have fewer retention problems, as they are able to offer better compensation and benefits packages, although they also feel the burden of increased costs to attract workers.
In the footwear sector, the situation is similar. Footwear manufacturing companies report difficulty in filling technical vacancies, especially for sewing positions.
According to the CEO of the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados), Haroldo Ferreira, the lack of qualified professionals could compromise the production of items intended for next year, putting at risk the sector's ability to meet future demands.
The future of the labor market in the South
To face these challenges, the state government, together with Fiergs and other entities, has discussed the creation of economic development strategies.
Among the proposals are investments in professional training programs and incentives to attract young people to industry and construction, in addition to policies to encourage local workers to remain in the formal market.
The objective is to combat turnover and facilitate entrepreneurs' access to a stable and qualified workforce.
Given this scenario, the question remains: Will Rio Grande do Sul be able to reverse the lack of qualified labor and ensure the competitiveness of strategic sectors?
School grants, charity grants and many other compensatory social measures are discouraging formal work, simply because any formal service prevents access to benefits. The lack of labor, just like EDUCATION, is not a coincidence, it is a PROJECT. How the country needs good politicians!
Stop it, you know the problem, everyone knows it. Ridiculous salaries of 200 dollars a month, with all products priced in dollars.
And you, what a people slavery.
Wake up, you abject being without empathy
Are you still doing this? Wake up. Your Bolsonaro increased the Bolsa Família program and also gave the 13th bonus and created the Auxílio Brasil program. Lula and Bolsonaro are populist politicians. The day you grow up, we'll talk...
Not to defend Bolsonaro, for whom I have no sympathy whatsoever, but this was done in the context of the pandemic, with millions of people being laid off due to the lockdown.
That's not it, my friend. You live in the south of the country!!! So you don't know anything!!! They want to pay 1500 reais per month without lunch or transportation vouchers, and you pay 1000 reais to rent a basement. How are you going to survive? Things in the south are very expensive... They don't want workers, they want slaves, and they won't find any slaves. I'm sorry!!!
Good job, this guy never worked or took a crowded bus.
Perfect! Research in my region indicates exactly that. Social benefits discourage people from looking for work. It's no wonder that Venezuelan and Cuban immigrants are quickly finding work, while Brazilians in the outskirts have been filling up the bars since morning.
They should put the white people of this State to work on the project instead of putting black people and people from the Northeast to build up this State. Since they humiliate so many.
Low wages, unrealistic demands. These offers are not at all attractive. I work at a sanitation company. They did a salary survey after complaints and said that all the plants in the region pay the same (they didn't consider that the others treat a maximum of 40 liters/s, while we treat 450 liters/s). The only attractive thing is the work shift, which is 6x4, but in February they want to change it to 6x2 without a salary increase. Everyone is going to quit because of this devaluation of our workforce.
Salary of 200 with dollarized prices, they want slaves, that's what