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Foreigners Are Infiltrating the Job Market in Brazil! With an Increase of Over 50% in Hiring, Venezuelans and Cubans Are Occupying Positions That Many Brazilians Ignore.
The Brazil is facing a silent revolution in the job market. Immigrants, especially Venezuelans and Cubans, are occupying positions that many Brazilians ignore, creating a significant shift in the formal hiring landscape.
However, this movement is not driven solely by the search for opportunities, but rather by an alarming need: the lack of skilled labor in the country.
From January to August 2024, the 53% increase in hiring foreigners signals a drastic change in the Brazilian market.
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According to the General Register of Employed and Unemployed (Caged), this phenomenon has a direct impact on the South and Southeast regions, where opportunities are more abundant.
According to LCA Consultores, in August, the number of immigrants with formal employment reached 321,000, marking the highest rate since January 2020.
And even though they represent only 0.6% of formal workers, the growth rate is impressive.
Foreign Labor Dominates the South and Southeast Regions
The highlight in the increase in hiring goes to Venezuelans and Cubans, who, fleeing crises in their countries of origin, find refuge in Brazil.
According to Estadão, the booming market in these regions has helped absorb this workforce, which now occupies positions that were often neglected by Brazilians.
The industry, a sector that employs over 40% of foreigners in Brazil, feels the need for new workers acutely.
Giant companies like BRF have created specific programs to integrate immigrants into the job market, as noted by the vice president of People, Management, and Transformation, Alessandro Bonorino.
The Story Behind the Numbers: Venezuelans Stand Out
Among the immigrants, Venezuelans like Asdrubal Jose Chanchamire Hurtado have stories that illustrate this reality.
Graduated in management and with military experience in Venezuela, Hurtado now works in poultry production at BRF and highlights the salary improvement of about 40% compared to previous jobs.
His dream is to return to the administrative field, and he believes that this path starts with dedication.
Another compelling case is that of Liliana Gomez, also Venezuelan, who faced difficult times upon arriving in Brazil in 2019.
Liliana lived on the streets for months before finding a position as a bakery sales clerk. Now, she dreams of advancing in her career and reaching administrative positions.
Construction: A Sector That Depends on Immigrant Labor
Besides the industry, construction has been another major gateway for foreigners.
The construction company Tenda, for example, started hiring refugees during the pandemic to combat high turnover in the sector.
Lucas Moura, Tenda’s Communication Manager, stated that the turnover among refugees is 67% lower than that of Brazilians, which increases operational efficiency.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the demand for workers in construction has increased significantly, especially in areas affected by natural disasters.
Malamine Mane, a mason from Guinea-Bissau, is one example of immigrants who found an opportunity to improve their lives in Brazil.
He is now planning to save money to buy a house for his family.
What Is Driving This Change in Brazil?
The main reason for this foreign influx into the formal job market in Brazil lies in the lack of skilled labor.
As Bruno Imaizumi, an economist at LCA Consultores, observes, many foreigners who previously held informal jobs are now formalizing, primarily due to the high demand for workers in crucial sectors.
Caged data shows that the South Region leads in the absorption of foreign workers, with a rate of 65.1%, followed by the Southeast with 18.7%.
Moreover, companies like BRF are leading the hiring of immigrants with specific programs.
According to Alessandro Bonorino from BRF, the hunger for better working conditions drives many immigrants to deeply engage in activities, exceeding expectations and contributing to the company’s growth.
The Challenges That Remain
However, not everything is rosy. Despite the increase in formal hiring, many immigrants face underemployment, taking jobs that do not match their qualifications.
According to Gelson Santana, president of the Construction Workers’ Union of Porto Alegre, there are numerous reports of teachers and qualified professionals who end up working in low-paying jobs that require little qualification, such as domestic work and in construction.
The president of the Commercial Workers’ Union of São Paulo, Ricardo Patah, also points out that the wages offered to refugees are often low, prompting these workers to accept difficult conditions such as working on Sundays and holidays.
The Future of the Brazilian Job Market
As more foreigners formalize in the Brazilian market, the country must prepare to address the challenges of integrating this workforce without harming local workers.
The balance between absorbing foreign labor and qualifying Brazilian workers will be crucial to avoid conflicts and ensure that economic growth remains sustainable.
Will Brazil be able to balance this increasing integration of immigrants without harming local workers? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Realmente,600 reais é suficiente para não querer trabalhar.Com o bolsa-família dá para fazer uma grande farra.
O brasileiro se defende de sua má vontade , julgando bolsa família , onde. A verdade nós aqui do sul , quase não temos , não poderíamos depender também dos que ganham esse benefício, aqui cidade que trabalho na verdade o que nos afasta da empresa é a falta de uma verdadeira remuneração, se fosse é qualificado então porque aceita ganhar pouco ou menos, a culpa recai sobre mão de obra qualificada e nós temos ela , agora peguem o justo e vocês terão de sobra .
Temos caso de eletricista ex , com qualificação e que em uma entrevista, sugerem 2700 reais mais os benefícios da profissão quer dizer é pouco, e culpam a falta de profissionais que estão mas que querem participar da festa . Paguem bem e terão seus profissionais.
INFELIZMENTE, COM O PROGRAMA DO GOVERNO DE DAR DINHEIRO PARA FAMÍLIAS QUE PASSAM NECESSIDADES,E NÃO GOSTAM DE TRABALHAR, SOMOS IMPULSIONADOS A CONTRATAR EXTRANJEIROS