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Even With a Degree or Technical Course, 57% of Brazilians Say It Is Almost Impossible to Find a Job, According to FGV Research.
The feeling that the Brazilian job market is becoming increasingly closed is not just an impression. A survey released by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) revealed that 57.3% of workers say it is difficult or very difficult to find a job in Brazil in 2025, even though official unemployment rates indicate improvements. This data exposes a worrying reality: the difficulty of professional insertion affects not only those with low education but also Brazilians with technical courses and university degrees.
A Country That Grows, but Does Not Generate Opportunities
The survey, conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Economics of FGV (Ibre/FGV), shows that despite the unemployment rate dropping to 5.6%, the lowest level in 13 years according to IBGE, families perceive that jobs are becoming scarcer.
This happens because the market is more demanding, with fewer formal job openings and a large concentration of opportunities in low-paying sectors.
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While the number of informal jobs continues to grow, formal positions with contracts and benefits remain virtually stable.
“There is a widespread feeling of insecurity. Even those who are employed fear losing their jobs or not being able to find another one quickly,” explained economist Rodolpho Tobler, coordinator of the FGV research.
Even Those Who Studied Face Difficulty
One of the most alarming points of the survey is that the difficulty of re-employment affects all education levels. Professionals with technical courses or degrees—traditionally more valued—report facing long job searches, slow selection processes, and salaries lower than expected.
According to FGV, the oversupply of qualified labor and low industrial growth have created a bottleneck in the market. Engineers, maintenance technicians, administrators, and IT professionals have faced fierce competition for positions. In many cases, the offered salary is up to 30% lower than what was reported before the pandemic.
“Qualification has stopped being a differential and has become a basic requirement. The problem now is that there are more qualified people than available positions,” highlighted Tobler.
Young People and Senior Professionals Suffer More
The survey also indicates that the two age extremes of the market are the most penalized. Among young people aged 18 to 24, 68% report difficulty finding their first job, while among workers over 50, 61% say they face rejection due to age.
Companies have prioritized “intermediate” profiles, professionals between 25 and 45 years old with recent experience. This trend has pushed young people into temporary jobs and older individuals into informality, reinforcing the precariousness of labor relations.
Sectors That Still Hire
Despite the challenging environment, there are niches that continue to hire. According to FGV, the essential services sector (such as transportation, food, and health) created the most jobs in 2025, followed by agribusiness and construction.
However, segments such as technology, energy, and finance are hiring less, partly due to the global economic slowdown and still high interest rates in Brazil.
The Ministry of Labor estimates that around 1.2 million new jobs are expected to be created by the end of 2025, but most of them will be concentrated in medium or low-paying areas.
“The challenge is to generate quality jobs. The GDP growth does not automatically translate into formal and well-paid opportunities,” stated Minister Luiz Marinho at a recent press conference.
The Gap Between Real Unemployment and Perceived Unemployment
The apparent contradiction between official data and popular perception has an explanation. IBGE measures unemployment considering only those who are actively seeking work.
On the other hand, FGV captures the feeling of difficulty, which includes discouraged workers—those who have given up looking for a job because they don’t believe they will be able to find one.
Currently, the country has over 4 million Brazilians in this situation, a number that has remained virtually stable since 2022. This explains why, even with positive indicators, the feeling on the streets is that unemployment remains high.
The Weight of Informality
Another factor that exacerbates the perception is informality. According to IBGE, almost 40% of the Brazilian workforce works without a formal contract, whether as freelancers, informal sellers, or temporary service providers. Although these workers are not unemployed, they face a lack of stability, low earnings, and absence of benefits such as vacation and 13th salary.
Economist Alexandre Schwartsman assesses that this is the cruelest face of the current market: “Brazil has managed to reduce unemployment, but at the cost of more precarious jobs. The feeling of vulnerability is real, especially among the middle and working classes.”
The New Race for Training
The search for professional differentiation has led thousands of Brazilians to invest in updating courses and technical certifications.
According to the National Service for Industrial Training (Senai), the demand for quick training has grown by 22% in 2025, with a focus on areas such as industrial maintenance, electricity, and automation.
However, experts warn that education alone is not enough. It is necessary to combine training with public policies that encourage productive investment and the generation of quality jobs. “Training more people is important, but without a strong industry and accessible credit, the market will not absorb this workforce,” concluded Tobler.
Outlook for 2026
In the coming months, the market is expected to remain sluggish. Analysts from FGV and the Central Bank project modest growth in the number of formal job openings, with a more consistent recovery only from 2026—if interest rates decrease and the global economy stabilizes.
Meanwhile, Brazilian workers continue to live with the paradox of a country that grows but does not hire.
For many, the degree and personal effort are no longer guarantees of opportunity. And the statistic of 57%—more than half the population saying it is difficult to find work is a reflection of a market that has not yet fully recovered from the scars left by the pandemic and the economic slowdown of recent years.
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