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Rio Grande do Sul Faces A Severe Labor Shortage Impacting Industries And Commerce. Sectors Such As Construction And Footwear Production Struggle With High Turnover And Difficulty Attracting Qualified Professionals.
In a scenario that has left business owners from various sectors on high alert, the shortage of qualified labor begins to critically impact the economy of Southern Brazil.
The difficulty in finding professionals for essential positions in industry, construction, and commerce not only affects production but also raises operational costs and imposes a slower pace on businesses. Although the problem has been apparent 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 concerning data: about 27% of industrial business owners in the state reported that the lack or high cost of skilled workers is one of the main difficulties for the continuity of operations.
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Labor shortage reaches Brazil and companies respond with free courses, 1,200 open positions, 4,034 active training programs, training from scratch, certifications like CPA-20, and even 100% employability in exclusive programs.
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IMF warns: Brazil’s gross debt could reach 100% of GDP by 2027 and continue to rise until 2031.
This is the highest rate recorded since 2014, reflecting the worsening of this situation and putting the state on high alert.
Strategic Sectors Face Crisis
According to Zero Hora newspaper, the construction sector is one of the most affected by the lack of professionals.
With high turnover and employment rates at elevated levels, companies struggle to retain qualified workers in technical areas such as finishing and electrical installation, which are essential for the progress of projects.
According to the president of the Construction Industry Union of Rio Grande do Sul (Sinduscon-RS), Claudio Teitelbaum, the situation is so intense that many workers end up being contested among companies in the same industry, leading to a surge in wages and further encouraging job-hopping in search of better conditions.
Within construction firms, the roles of bricklayers, carpenters, and finishing specialists have been the most adversely affected, with significant increases in costs.
The engineering director of Cyrela Goldsztein, Gustavo Navarro, highlighted that the salary of a masonry bricklayer, for example, rose by 30% in the last two years, showcasing the weight of this shortage on the sector.
Companies such as MRV also face similar hurdles, especially in specialized activities such as painting and plumbing, which are crucial for completing projects.
The chief economist of Fecomércio-RS, Patrícia Palermo, also points out that the commerce sector faces challenges due to a lack of candidates for temporary positions, particularly during peak retail periods.
According to Palermo, many workers are unwilling to take temporary commitments or flexible hours, which limits possibilities for the retail sector and creates a disconnect between job openings and the demand for professionals.
The Reasons for the Worker Shortage
According to experts, high turnover and the constant search for better salary conditions are factors contributing to this labor shortage.
Qualified workers, especially younger ones, do not exhibit the same loyalty to companies that previous generations did.
Today, many prefer to change jobs, fields, or even regions in search of new opportunities and challenges, a behavior that business owners and managers claim is driven by wage competitiveness.
According to economist Maria Carolina Gullo, a professor at the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), a buoyant labor market creates a turnover cycle that raises the cost of “human capital” in the state.
“These new generations are not afraid to change careers and seek competitive compensation or even personal satisfaction,” explains Gullo, highlighting that the difficulty in retaining youth is one of the major challenges for the sector.
This phenomenon leads many companies to spend even more on salaries and benefits to attract and retain qualified professionals.
Additionally, the demographic transformations in 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 more rapidly than the national average, which reduces the number of young people available in the market.
According to him, the lack of effective programs to attract youth from other states and the prevalence of social benefits, which discourage formal work, are additional obstacles for the region’s productive sector.
Small Businesses and the Impact of Labor Shortage
Another relevant factor is that the shortage primarily affects small enterprises.
Fiergs indicates that 36.1% of small businesses face challenges due to the lack of qualified labor, which puts them at a disadvantage in competing for professionals.
In contrast, medium and large companies experience fewer retention issues because they can offer better compensation packages and benefits, although they also feel the strain of rising costs to attract workers.
In the footwear sector, the situation is similar. Shoe manufacturing companies report difficulty in filling technical positions, especially for sewing roles.
According to the executive president of the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados), Haroldo Ferreira, the lack of qualified professionals may jeopardize production for next year, putting the industry’s ability to meet future demands at risk.
The Future of the Labor Market in the South
To tackle these challenges, the state government, together with Fiergs and other bodies, has been discussing the creation of economic development strategies.
Among the proposals are investments in professional training programs and incentives to attract youth to industry and construction, as well as policies to encourage the retention of local workers in the formal market.
The goal 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 situation of lacking qualified labor and ensure the competitiveness of strategic sectors?
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Sou Angolano e estou interessado e pronto para trabalhar.
Boa noite,esse desgoverno está dando incentivo de milhões de reais a muita empresa mas mesmo assim essa empresas continuam dizendo que não pode pagar mas enfim a hipocrisia continua nesse pais.enquanto isso os políticos caras de **** ganham fortunas de salários enganando o povo dizendo que trabalham 3×4 canalhas.