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Aged Workforce And Lack Of Qualified Professionals Drive Contractors To Attract New Profiles. Sector Bets On Technical Training, Greater Female Presence, And Modernization Of Worksites As A Renewal Strategy.
The construction industry has intensified its search for women and young people in light of the aging workforce and the difficulty of replacing professionals.
Industry entities report training campaigns focusing on technical skills and promise higher wages for qualified positions — in some cases, between US$ 10,000 and US$ 12,000 — to attract new profiles to the worksites.
This movement occurs in a market characterized by high informality and income instability.
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Vietnam opens its market to Brazilian beef calves and grants access to a destination that has already imported over US$ 3.5 billion from the national agribusiness, expanding exports, reducing waste, and boosting slaughterhouses across the country.
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While the world was paying more for fuel, the 100 largest oil companies on the planet raked in an extra $23 billion in just 30 days of blockage in the Strait of Hormuz.
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In 1996, with just R$ 1, it was possible to buy items like pants and everyday goods, but what has happened to the purchasing power of Brazilians from the beginning of the Real Plan until today?
Aged And Male Workforce
The average age of construction workers in the country is around 41 years, with a male predominance, according to industry research presented by industrial entities.
The study shows that the formal workforce represents a minority share of the total employed, and that the majority work independently, often without labor protections.
This landscape helps explain the turnover and retention challenges reported by companies.
Sector Signals Women And Young People With Qualifications
The bet from employer unions and associations has been to enhance technical training and modernize processes to make construction jobs more attractive.
Since last year, SindusCon-SP has intensified partnerships to qualify women and integrate them into job fronts, associating the initiative with a discourse of industrializing worksites and increasing productivity.
The union president, Yorki Estefan, has publicly advocated that training and career progression paths are essential to replenish the workforce, also citing the need to review hiring models.
Female Participation Is Still Low, But Advancing
Although recruitment efforts are increasing, the presence of women remains limited.
In the formal job segment of construction, 9.2% of positions are occupied by women in Brazil.
In São Paulo, they represent 12.4% of the formal workforce in the sector, according to a study led by economist Ana Maria Castelo.
Sector entities believe that the expansion of more industrialized processes and a focus on qualifications are likely to increase female participation and diversify the professional profile on worksites.
Informality And Unstable Income Limit Entry
Another recurring hurdle is income instability.
A significant portion of workers is paid hourly or weekly and does not have access to vacation, 13th salary, or social security contributions.
Recent surveys indicate that, among construction workers, only 25.5% were formally employed in 2023.
Informality accounted for 67% when considering informal self-employed workers and salaried workers without formal contracts.
This scenario pushes professionals into multiple contracts and delivery work, impacting their work hours and income security.
Salaries: From Minimum To Scarce Function Earnings
In the minimums defined by regional collective negotiations, the values vary by category and location, with adjustments agreed upon at the base date of May in important markets across the country.
Positions that require higher qualifications, such as specialized carpenters, formwork installers, and finish masons, can reach US$ 10,000 to US$ 12,000 during times of scarcity for these profiles, sector leaders report.
The higher remuneration usually accompanies peaks in construction cycles and is not always sustained throughout the year.
Meanwhile, union bases reported a 6% adjustment for salaries up to R$ 7,818.84 in the State of São Paulo starting in May 2025, serving as a reference indicator for the evolution of local minimums.
How Much Do Construction Supervisor Positions Earn?
Job platforms and salary transparency indicate wide salary ranges for construction supervisors, depending on experience, company size, and region.
In 2025, voluntary records on Glassdoor indicate monthly medians close to US$ 9,000 in São Paulo, with a range between US$ 6,000 and US$ 21,000.
In other markets, such as Porto Alegre, the reported medians are lower.
These values do not constitute minimums and may reflect bonuses, supplements, and differences in responsibilities.
Formal Employment Grows, But Remains A Minority In The Total Sector
Despite the predominant informality in the construction aggregate, formal employment in sector companies rose in 2025 and surpassed 3 million formal ties, according to data consolidated by entities based on the New Caged.
At the same time, employer associations and researchers warn that the slowdown in segments such as infrastructure and rising interest rates affect hiring rates and pressure retention strategies.
In this context, qualification initiatives and career reorganization gain importance to sustain workforce attraction.
Hiring Models Under Discussion
Among the proposals to enhance attractiveness, sector leaders advocate partnerships with Sebrae and the creation of professional progression paths.
There are also those who suggest revising the hiring model, noting that some young people prefer to work asindividual micro-entrepreneurs (MEI).
Sector studies, however, emphasize that increasing formalization through formal contracts remains a central challenge to reduce turnover and ensure benefits, bringing the discussion back to new hiring and certification rules for service providers.
Modernization As A Showcase
Along with qualifications, contractors and entities have promoted modernization of worksites — with more industrialized processes, quality management, and safety — as a showcase to attract those who do not yet view construction as a long-term career.
The expectation is that technology and productivity will help reduce the perception of exclusively manual labor and, thereby, expand the recruitment base among women and young people.
In light of this effort to rejuvenate and diversify the workforce, the question remains: Will the sector be able to turn training and modernization into more stable hires and attractive careers for newcomers?
Os homens acima dos 35 anos estão acostumados com serviços pesados, antigamente jogador de futebol quase se não ouvia falar de lesão igual hoje em dia, efeito da alimentação está fazendo isso, mudando organismo, era tudo que os todes queria, efeito disso em colocar mulher serviço pesado vai ser daqui dez anos quantos elas não ter mais coluna, INSS vai sofrer com isso, e os mendigo e **** só aumentando, será que pessoal não vê que mão de obra está indo para debaixo de marquise se entupindo de drogas e bebidas , e indo para ****, e os homens que sobrar vão trabalhar por todos esses, mais as mulheres que vão se afastar por não ter mais condições físicas, aí ou cara fica doente, ou ele vira **** ou nasceu rico, esse sistema vai afundar o Brasil.
Realmente Mercado de trabalho está uma decepção.
Enquanto homens Engenheiro com Graduação e pós e experiência braçal., são obrigados a trabalhar em cargos inferiores, devido a péssimo renumeração ,que as empresas pagam .
Pois preferem pagar um **** salário para Auxiliar de engenheiro.
Do que pagar um salário justo para um engenheiro Pleno.
Diante de 14 Anos acompanhando e trabalhando em obras ,tenho Plena certeza de que as mulheres não são capacitadas para cargos como Engenheira ou carpinteiro etc .
Sou engenheiro Civil, Especializado em gerenciamento de obras. Experiência de 25 anos como Mestre de Obras . Atuando com contrato PJ atualmente.