English 
Spanish 
4 min read
71 comments
Brazil is facing a serious crisis: there is a shortage of 75 engineers to meet market demand. School dropout rates, outdated curricula and a lack of investment in basic education and infrastructure are affecting the sector.
Engineering is one of the most vital areas for the development of any country, but in Brazil, this profession faces an alarming challenge.
A combination of school dropouts, outdated curricula and a lack of structural investment has resulted in a staggering gap: the country needs 75 engineers to meet current demand, according to the National Confederation of Industry (CNI).
Despite specific advances, engineering training does not keep up with market needs, much less with the reality of other emerging nations.
- Important highway (BR) must leave government hands and end up in private hands
- China's Richest Man: How Zhong Shanshan Dropped Out of School, Built a Billion-Dollar Empire and Lost $4 Billion in One Day
- Russian general warns British missile strike could trigger World War III: UK targeted for devastating retaliation
- Greece faces historic crisis: drought forces hotels to fill pools with seawater to save resources
The crisis goes beyond a mere lack of professionals; it reflects a series of educational, structural and economic problems that the country is facing.
A deficit that limits growth
CNI estimates that Brazil trains around 40 thousand engineers per year.
This number is extremely low when compared to other BRICS countries, such as China and Russia, which train more than 450 professionals annually.
According to the Federal Council of Engineering and Agronomy (Confea), between 2014 and 2021, the country lost around 150 thousand students enrolled in engineering courses, further accentuating the deficit.
In an interview with the newspaper Mail Braziliense, Marcos Gabriel Oliveira de Souza, a mechatronics engineering student at the University of Brasília (UnB), explains the phenomenon: “99% of my colleagues stop being engineers to become programmers or seek public competitions.
Working as an engineer requires a lot of determination and, often, family connections that facilitate access to the market.”
According to data from Professor Michelly de Souza, from the Fundação Inaciana Pe. Saboia de Medeiros (FEI), the economic crisis experienced by Brazil between 2014 and 2021 also contributed to this evasion.
A lack of investments in infrastructure and technological development created uncertainty about the future of the profession, driving young people away from engineering courses.
Deficiencies in teaching compromise training
One of the biggest challenges is the low quality of basic education in areas such as mathematics and exact sciences, which are fundamental for training engineers.
According to Michelly, “The interest of children and young people needs to be awakened in a playful way, showing them how to solve real problems”.
Still according to the Mail Braziliense, initiatives that bring high school students closer to exact sciences have been promoted by institutions such as the Center for Business-School Integration (CIEE).
Mônica Vargas, CIEE's Operations Superintendent, explains that the organization manages 9,3 engineering internships in Brazil and seeks to attract young people through partnerships with renowned colleges, such as Poli-USP, FEI and Mackenzie.
However, many students still avoid the field due to a lack of affinity with mathematics or lack of knowledge about the possibilities of the profession.
As Mônica explains, “it is essential to make learning more attractive from an early age and increase the number of entries and completions in engineering courses”.
Curricular reform is essential for engineering
Experts point out that the engineering curriculum in Brazil needs urgent reform. Marcos Gabriel, from UnB, criticizes the number of outdated and impractical subjects:
“We have many experimental subjects that have no application in the job market. What we learn does not reflect the reality of the profession.”
Michelly agrees and defends the inclusion of practical experiences in the curriculum.
For her, getting closer to the market, through projects and research, can help young people better understand the importance of engineering in the development of society.
Internships and a welcoming environment are key
Student retention also depends on a more welcoming university environment.
Michelly highlights that “active methodologies, well-equipped study rooms and modern laboratories can reduce dropout rates, especially in the first semesters, which are the most challenging.”
At the same time, Mônica Vargas reinforces that increasing the offer of internships is crucial.
Internships not only prepare students for the job market, but also increase their chances of remaining in the profession after graduation.
Social and economic impacts of labor shortages
A lack of engineers in Brazil directly affects the expansion of infrastructure and technological advancement. According to the Mail Braziliense, crucial sectors such as transport, energy and construction suffer from delays and high costs due to the lack of qualified professionals.
“Brazilian engineers are only valued when they work for multinationals or occupy high-ranking positions in the public sector,” says Marcos Gabriel.
Outside of these contexts, many companies do not even pay the minimum wage for the category, estimated at R$7 in the Federal District, which further discourages young people.
Michelly believes that communicating these impacts to society can attract new talent: “Engineering can contribute to a fairer and more sustainable future, solving real problems, such as the creation of clean technologies and solutions for optimizing natural resources.”
How to face the future of engineering?
Despite the challenges, Brazil is able to reverse this scenario.
With investments in basic education, encouragement of research and curricular reforms, engineering can become a more attractive profession for young people.
But and you? Do you believe that Brazil will be able to fill this gap and value its engineers? Leave your opinion in the comments!
Here in my city, engineers are not getting jobs, even if they are qualified.
Really. I don't know in what world this is happening. And I live in Rio de Janeiro. I'm always posting my resume. I graduated a year ago and I only had one interview in the field.
Perfect. The problem is economic. There are no challenges, there are no investments.
My son is an electrical engineer, with a degree in industrial automation engineering, completed another postgraduate degree in electrical design and cannot find a job because he has no experience.
That's exactly it Carla, I have 15 years of experience in the industrial electrical field, technical course, college and postgraduate studies, I can't get an engineering position because I don't have experience as an engineer 🤷🏻♂️
This country is complicated
That's my case too, Jair. I'm now studying for a competitive exam.
I say the same, partner. Even to help, they are demanding experience.
It's really complicated, I'm an agricultural engineer, with a postgraduate degree in renewable energy and I'm currently having to work as an app driver because I'm not even called for an interview. It's been 10 years since I graduated, now the excuse will probably be my age, since I'm already 51 years old, it's a joke until I see this article.