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Amid The Advancement Of The Jeans Industry, A Small City In São Paulo Faces A Problem That Could Halt Its Growth. Even With Factories Running At Full Steam, The Lack Of Skilled Professionals Raises An Alert In The Regional Economy.
With over 70 factories in operation and a production that exceeds a million pieces per month during peak season, Urupês, in the interior of São Paulo, lives a paradox: while it stands out nationally as a hub of the jeans industry, it faces a growing scarcity of skilled labor.
The city, known as the “Jeans Capital,” feels the effects of the lack of qualified professionals to meet the demand of one of the sectors that most stimulates its economy.
Despite the prosperity of the textile industry, local entrepreneurs warn of a bottleneck that could compromise the municipality’s growth rate in the coming years.
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Urupês: Textile Hub In Expansion In The Interior Of São Paulo
Located approximately 420 kilometers from the capital of São Paulo, Urupês has just over 15,000 inhabitants and a territorial area of 324 km².
What stands out, however, is its impressive industrial density focused on the production of jeans clothing.
According to data from the city hall and the business sector, there are over 70 factories in operation, responsible for directly employing around 3,000 people — which represents 60% of the city’s formal jobs.
The jeans industry in Urupês not only sustains the local economy but also generates positive ripples in neighboring municipalities, such as Irapuã, Sales, and Ibirá, which provide complementary labor and absorb part of the regional economic activity.
This dynamism has turned the city into a true symbol of resistance and innovation in the Brazilian textile sector, even in a scenario of increasing challenges imposed by the global market and changes in working relationships.
Lack Of Qualification Threatens Industry Growth
Despite the rapid growth, the scarcity of skilled labor has become one of the main barriers faced by local entrepreneurs, as reported by the newspaper Diário do Litoral.
The difficulty in finding professionals ready to engage in the different stages of production — from modeling to finishing — has generated concern.
According to local entrepreneurs, there are job openings available year-round, but there is a lack of people with the necessary technical preparation and, in many cases, even the interest of the local population.
The absence of vocational courses, coupled with the migration of young people to larger urban centers in search of different opportunities, further exacerbates the situation.
“We are growing, we have the structure, machinery, and market. What we lack are people willing and capable to work,” laments a businessman in the sector who prefers to remain anonymous.
According to him, many workers end up being trained internally by the companies themselves, which requires time and investment that is not always feasible in the long term.
Local Initiatives Try To Fill The Gap
In an attempt to address the problem, some factories are investing in internal training programs and establishing partnerships with technical education institutions.
The goal is to train a new generation of professionals with specific skills for the textile sector, which is highly specialized and requires attention to detail, agility, and technical knowledge.
Entities such as SENAI and SEBRAE have already been approached by local entrepreneurs to develop customized courses tailored to local needs.
However, the projects still face logistical barriers and depend on government support to become viable on a large scale.
Experts warn that public policies to promote vocational training are essential to ensure that cities like Urupês do not lose their productive strength.
With the rapid technological transformation and global competition, labor qualification is an increasingly necessary competitive differential.
Agriculture And Tourism Also Drive The City
Although jeans are the flagship of Urupês’ economy, the city does not solely rely on the textile industry.
Agriculture, especially the cultivation of Tahiti limes — which, technically, is a variety of acidic lime — also has significant economic weight.
According to data from the São Paulo State Department of Agriculture, in 2021 the municipality reported approximately 350 rural properties dedicated to the cultivation of the fruit, with production exceeding 89,000 tons per year, spread over 3,500 hectares of planted area.
This activity not only generates jobs but also supplies internal and external markets.
Tourism is another growing sector, particularly highlighted by the Municipal Park Mário Covas, known as Parque dos Lagos.
The space offers leisure infrastructure with artificial lakes, a walking track, sports courts, a playground, and an outdoor gym.
Additionally, the city preserves religious traditions, such as devotion to the patron saint São Lourenço, whose relic attracts devotees and visitors.
The Future Of The Capital Of Jeans Depends On Investing In People
Even with all the merits achieved, Urupês needs to pay attention to the challenges that accompany growth.
The lack of skilled labor is a real problem that can jeopardize the city’s prominence in the textile sector if concrete measures are not taken.
Investing in training, creating public policies to encourage young people to stay in the municipality, and promoting partnerships with educational institutions are strategies that can ensure the sustainability of the local economy.
Without these actions, the risk is that the success of the Capital of Jeans becomes an obstacle to its own development.
The experience of Urupês reveals a reality experienced by many Brazilian cities that bet on industrialization as a growth engine: without trained people to transform raw materials into products, progress stagnates.
And you, do you think that schools and the government should get more involved in preparing young people for the local job market? Comment and share your opinion!
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