Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
4 comments 
Shortage of Qualified Professionals Pressures Industries in Bahia and Leads SENAI to Expand the Offering of Technical and Vocational Courses, Seeking to Meet the Growing Demand for Specialized Labor and Stimulate Regional Development.
Bahia is facing a growing deficit of qualified professionals in various industrial sectors, which has led SENAI to expand its offering of technical and vocational courses.
Segments such as construction, furniture, textiles, metallurgy, and steelmaking are among the most affected by the shortage of specialized labor.
The scenario follows a global trend: a survey by ManpowerGroup, conducted with more than 40,000 employers in 42 countries, shows that 75% of companies face difficulty hiring talent — in Brazil, the index reaches 80%.
-
Federal Institute opens over 700 vacancies in free technical courses in Civil Engineering, Mechanics, Electrotechnics, Computer Science, and Nursing; see how to enroll and study at IFPB.
-
Become a professional in logistics, mechanics, computer science, chemistry, or gastronomy at the Federal Institute: Ifes opens more than 1,000 spots in free technical courses with selection without an exam.
-
Take a 100% online and free course at Itaú: Foundation releases 156 options with certificates, registrations open for all of Brazil, unlimited access, areas such as technology, education, and management, and a flexible schedule without tutoring.
-
Senai will pay up to R$ 700 per month for those who take free technical courses: there are 12,000 open positions across Brazil and training with access to the technology market.
Among the main factors explaining the so-called “labor shortage” are accelerated digital transformation, aging population, globalization, and the increasing requirements for technical qualification.
Moreover, the growth of informality, which offers immediate earnings, has driven some young people away from formal positions that require vocational training.
To address the problem, SENAI Bahia has been expanding its training actions and strengthening the link between technical education and industry demands.
The institution offers vocational, technical, and post-technical courses aligned with the Industrial Labor Map, a study by SENAI Nacional that identifies professions and skills that are expected to gain relevance by 2027.
Areas with the Highest Demand for Technical Professionals in Bahia
According to Patrícia Evangelista, Executive Superintendent of Professional Education at SENAI Bahia, the sectors with the highest demand in the coming years include logistics and transportation, construction, maintenance and repair of industrial machinery, and electro-electronics.
She also mentions the advancement of opportunities in the areas of industrial operations, loading and unloading, logistics, and the food and beverage sector, which has been growing steadily.
Patrícia explains that SENAI has been active in these areas even before the projections of the Labor Map and that the current priority is the requalification of professionals who are already employed but need to update their knowledge in light of new technologies and productive processes.
The regional director of SENAI Bahia, Evandro Mazo, states that the initiatives have generated concrete results.
“More than 75% of SENAI Bahia graduates are employed,” he noted, citing a survey by the National Industry Observatory (CNI).
According to him, the employment rate reflects the alignment of the courses with the real demands of companies and the investment in methodologies that combine theory and practice.
Partnerships Strengthen Professional Training in Bahia
The strengthening of partnerships with the productive sector has been another focus of the strategy.
Since 2023, Veracel, a company producing cellulose from eucalyptus, has maintained the Workforce Development Program in partnership with SENAI Bahia, aimed at regional development and the inclusion of women in technical roles in the forestry sector.
The People and Care Manager at Veracel, Cristiane Mendes de Mello, explains that the initiative has also opened space for projects focused on diversity.
“We launched an exclusive online course for People with Disabilities (PWDs), in the areas of Administration and Human Resources, with national coverage. Additionally, we will start in 2025 the course for cellulose technician, aimed at one of the most important chains in the Bahia economy,” she detailed.
For the president of the Bahia State Furniture Industry Union (Moveba), Maurício Lassman, cooperation with SENAI is essential for maintaining the competitiveness of the sector.
He emphasizes that “SENAI supplies the market with qualified labor, indispensable for companies that need to modernize.”
Most Affected Sectors and Profile of Technical Positions
The most evident shortages are concentrated in logistics, industrial maintenance, infrastructure works, and electro-electronic processes, areas that require technical mastery and constant updating.
Professionals with knowledge in predictive maintenance, operational safety, and automation are increasingly valued.
In the food and beverage sector, there is a growing demand for technicians in quality control and good manufacturing practices, reflecting the increase in sanitary requirements and production rigor.
In the construction industry, there is demand for specialists in electrical installations, plumbing, and sustainable systems.
The lack of qualified labor, according to specialists, can reduce productivity and compromise production schedules.
The investment in technical and vocational education is seen as the quickest path to balance the supply and demand of professionals in strategic sectors of the Bahia economy.
Innovation and Inclusion as Pillars of Technical Training
SENAI has also updated its teaching methodologies to serve an increasingly diverse audience.
In addition to promoting the inclusion of historically underrepresented groups, the institution has been investing in hybrid education, digital simulators, and methodologies based on practical projects.
The goal is to bring training closer to the real work environment, ensuring employability and adaptation to new technologies.
These measures, according to the institution, have a direct impact on local industries, which now have better-prepared professionals to meet the demands of automation, sustainability, and safety.
The expectation is that, in the coming years, the combination of technology and human training will boost the competitiveness of the Bahia productive sector.
How to Enroll in SENAI Bahia Courses
SENAI Bahia has open enrollment from November 2025 to January 2026 for technical courses aimed at those who are currently attending or have already completed high school.
The trainings combine theoretical learning and supervised practice, focusing on the needs of the labor market.
Also available are short-term professional qualification courses aimed at different industrial segments, and post-technical courses directed at those who already have technical training and wish to specialize in technology, innovation, and applied management.
Interested parties can enroll directly on the official SENAI Bahia websites:
tecnico.senaibahia.com.br (technical courses),
curtaduracaosenaiba.com.br (professional qualification) and
postecnico.senaibahia.com.br (post-technical).
O que está faltando é Salário descente
Não existe apagão, o que existe são empresas que só contratam com experiência. Logo a pessoa gasta uma grana nos cursos e continua desempregada pq ninguém contrata sem experiência.
Concordo plenamente!!! Sou prova vi a disso. Sou estudante do curso técnico no próprio Senai e toda vez que faço uma entrevista, PERCO!!!! porque não tenho experiência.
Temos de aprender a separar o joio do trigo. Será realmente que existe de fato escassez de mão de obra ou apenas uma tática do mercado em querer aumentar os números de profissionais a fim de diminuir o valor da mão de obra?