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Real Estate Market in São Paulo Faces Growing Shortage of Skilled Labor, Impacting the Pace of Construction and Forcing Contractors to Invest in Training and Partnerships to Fill Essential Positions.
The construction industry in Brazil, especially in São Paulo, faces a paradoxical situation: while thousands seek placement in the job market, large contractors report an intense shortage of skilled labor, mainly for technical positions.
This scenario was detailed by Adalberto Bueno Netto, head of the Bueno Netto construction company, during an interview with the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo.
According to Bueno Netto, today the shortage of professionals is the main bottleneck in the sector.
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“Brazil has zero unemployment for those who want to work. There are many opportunities, salaries have risen significantly in the construction industry. Anyone who wants to work can find a job,” said the businessman to the newspaper, highlighting the growing difficulty in filling positions on large construction sites.
Shortage of Skilled Labor Harms the Construction Sector
The scarcity of specialized workers — such as carpenters, painters, tile setters, and masons — has been a recurring issue in companies of all sizes.
Recent data from the Brazilian Chamber of Construction Industry (CBIC) indicates that, just in the last year, over 150,000 new jobs were created in the segment.
Even so, several vacancies remain open due to lack of qualified professionals, a reality that, according to Bueno Netto, is already affecting deadlines and costs of projects.
To minimize the labor shortage, Bueno Netto established a partnership with the National Service for Industrial Learning (Senai) and launched vocational courses aimed at residents of Paraisópolis, one of the largest communities in São Paulo.
The objective is not only to fill the gap in professionals but also to offer productive and social inclusion, promoting the qualification of new workers directly in the vicinity of the projects.
Investment in Training Is an Alternative to Fill Positions
In the ambitious Parque Global project, led by Bueno Netto along the Marginal Pinheiros, the impact of labor shortages has become a daily challenge.
With five residential towers, a hospital, an innovation center, a shopping center, and commercial spaces under construction, the project relies on the constant recruitment and training of qualified workers.
The businessman told Folha that monthly courses for roles such as carpentry and painting are already being held, and new initiatives for training tile setters, including women, are in expansion.
Additionally, the Instituto Bueno Netto was created to serve as a permanent training hub, both for the company’s employees and for residents of the region.
This movement reflects a growing trend in the sector: companies are increasingly investing in internal training in light of the difficulty in finding ready professionals in the market.
Construction Industry Experiences a Zero-Unemployment Scenario for Labor
In contrast to other sectors, the construction industry maintains a hiring pace above the national average.
According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the general unemployment rate in Brazil reached its lowest level since 2015, hitting 7.1% in the second quarter of 2025.
However, the construction segment offers even more opportunities, and those who wish to enter this market find a constant supply of vacancies.
The increase in salaries and the rise in investments in large real estate projects, such as Parque Global, reinforce the scenario of “zero unemployment” for workers willing to qualify.
Still, the resistance of young people to traditional careers and the lack of technical training hinder the full occupation of available positions.
Training Seen as a Pathway to Advance the Sector
Leaders in the real estate sector and experts point out that the solution to the shortage of labor necessarily involves continuous investment in technical education and the appreciation of careers.
Proprietary schools, partnerships with educational entities, and the inclusion of new training initiatives have been strategies adopted to maintain the progress of construction and avoid delays or additional costs.
The original report published by Folha de S. Paulo highlights that the shortage of workers is already reflected in discussions among entrepreneurs, unions, and public bodies, becoming a priority agenda for the future of the construction industry in Brazil.
According to Bueno Netto, qualification and innovation are essential to ensure the success of large urban projects and avoid production bottlenecks.
In light of this scenario, the lingering question is: what needs to be done to attract and prepare new professionals, ensuring sustainable development of the construction industry in light of the current context of labor shortage?
Salários baixos e muito desconto em folha…trabalhar para o patrão e governo ao mesmo tempo. Isso não é animador pra ninguém. Imposto de renda, INSS, sindicato etc.
Faltam mão de obra porque esse governo tira de quem trabalha e dar aos “pobrezinhos coidados” aumentando o celeiro de **** no País, trabalhar pra que se é só passar o cartão no caixa do banco e o dinheiro vai está la; até Bolivianos, Peruanos, Chilenos, Paraguaios, Uruguaios, Argentinos, Africanos, e muitos mais recebem auxilios desse Desgoverno, enquanto isso o País afundando e correndo a passos largos para uma Guerra, esse é o Desgoverno Brasil de Braços e Pernas arreganhados para tudo que não Presta.
Lula aquecendo a economia e desemprego super baixo