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Even With Signed Work Contracts and Salaries Exceeding R$ 2,000, Companies in the Field and Industry in the Northeast Cannot Hire. A Phenomenon That Exposes Social Conflicts, Dependency on Benefits, and Hurdles to Regional Growth.
Even offering salaries above R$ 2,000 and formal labor benefits, agribusiness and industry companies in the Northeast are facing increasing difficulties in hiring labor.
The situation stands out in Ceará but extends to other states in the region, generating concern among entrepreneurs and industry associations.
The problem has complex roots, involving everything from social assistance programs to cultural and structural changes in the labor market.
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In cities of the Ceará hinterland, it is common to hear frequent announcements on local radio stations about job openings with signed work contracts —
but the response from workers is minimal or nonexistent.
According to producers and industrialists in the region, a significant portion of the economically active population has preferred to stay out of the formal job market,
opting for cash transfer programs such as Bolsa Família.
The justification, they say, is the fear of losing the assistance benefit upon entering registered jobs.
Labor Shortage Affects Even Basic Tasks in the Field
In the countryside, the scenario is even more critical.
According to reports from producers in the interior of Ceará, there is a shortage of workers for basic agricultural routine activities,
such as manual milking, cleaning pens, and herd management.
In a farm located in the Northern Coast of Ceará, which grows coconut and green beans year-round,
more than 20 positions are open in the coconut water bottling unit,
an industrial operation recently implemented with Embrapa technology.
Despite formal conditions and the appeal for female applicants, the response from the local population has been negative.
The lack of interest has been attributed, in part, to the comfort offered by social benefits.
“Bolsa Família is an important tool in the fight against poverty,
but it needs to provide a way out.
Without this, we risk turning dependency into a career choice,”
warns a farmer from the Central Sertão, who, despite ongoing efforts to attract workers,
cannot fill the available positions on his property.
Regional Difference Highlights Contrast in the Labor Market
The problem, however, does not repeat itself with the same intensity in other regions of the country.
In the Midwest, for example, municipalities with strong agricultural vocations — such as those producing soybeans, corn, and cotton —
have managed to maintain high employment levels, with competitive salaries and formal hiring guaranteed by signed work contracts.
In Ceará, however, even with the rights assured by the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT),
the scarcity of professionals is a concerning reality.
An emblematic example comes from Morada Nova, where a shrimp farmer — known as a carciniculturist —
had to turn to his own son and brother to continue production,
due to the complete lack of external interested parties.
Industry Also Faces Hurdles to Maintain Operations Due to Labor Shortage
The shortage of qualified professionals does not affect only the countryside.
The industrial sector in Ceará also suffers from the low supply of technical labor,
even for positions with above-average salaries.
Ricard Pereira, a businessman in the metalworking sector and director of Indumetal,
reports difficulties in finding qualified operators for newly acquired machines.
“Labor does exist, but it is already fully employed.
I consider looking for professionals in the Southeast to meet this demand,” he stated.
This phenomenon has become a limiting factor for new investments.
According to an agro-industrialist in the region, the unavailability of workers makes many entrepreneurs think twice before investing,
which can have negative repercussions for the economic growth of the Northeast.
Initiatives Try to Reverse the Scenario, but Challenges Persist
In light of the alarming scenario, institutions linked to the agricultural sector are seeking solutions.
The Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of Ceará (Faec), through the National Rural Learning Service (Senar),
has focused on training small producers and rural workers,
including courses aimed at drone operation — a technology increasingly present in the field.
“Technical training is essential to integrate young people into the new agribusiness model,
which demands more preparation and mastery of digital tools,” explains Amílcar Silveira, president of Faec.
Still, the immediate challenge is to reverse the perception that formal work represents a threat to social benefits,
which requires a review of the rules and greater articulation between assistance programs and the labor market.
Controversy in Congress Escalates the Debate on Productivity
While the productive sector seeks solutions, the National Congress is analyzing a proposal that could further impact the country’s productivity:
the reduction of the weekly work hours from 44 to 40 hours.
The initiative raises alarms among employers, who are already facing challenges in keeping their operations running.
“Brazil often seems to penalize those who work and reward those who do not produce”,
a businessman commented critically, reflecting the growing frustration of the productive sector
in the face of perceived distortions in economic and labor policy.
Possible Paths for a Balanced Recovery
Experts consulted by economic and agribusiness portals point out that,
in addition to revising the criteria of social programs,
it is essential to promote actions that value rural and industrial work.
This includes improving infrastructure in more remote areas, providing decent transportation to company locations
and intensifying awareness campaigns about the benefits of formal work.
The combination of tax incentives for employers, public policies to mobilize the workforce, and technological updates
may be the way to reverse the concerning picture that is unfolding in the Northeast.
The Long-Term Impact of Labor Shortage
If there is no structural change in this scenario,
the Northeast risks facing a slowdown in economic development.
The absence of workers could compromise agricultural and industrial production, reduce regional competitiveness, and increase dependence on federal programs.
In the medium and long term, this could affect the entire Brazilian economy, as the northeastern agribusiness plays a significant role in the trade balance and food security.
And you, do you believe it is possible to reconcile social programs with encouragement for formal employment? How to solve this dilemma in the Brazilian labor market?
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