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The CLT continues to be the most attractive work model for Brazilians, even in a scenario of advancement of digital platforms, freelance work, and other forms of employment outside of formal contracts.
The CLT is even more prominent among young people, reinforcing the search for security, labor rights, and social protection at the beginning of their careers. The survey also reveals a high level of satisfaction with current jobs, which helps explain why few people are looking for new positions.
The preference for formal employment contradicts part of the louder discourse on social media, where there is often talk of rejection of the formal model. According to research released by the National Confederation of Industry, employment governed by the Consolidation of Labor Laws was identified as the most attractive option by more than one-third of workers who recently sought employment.
Even with new forms of work gaining ground, the study shows that labor rights, Social Security, stability, and protection continue to hold real weight in the decision-making of Brazilians. This helps to understand why the CLT still occupies a central position in the minds of those seeking a more secure and structured job.
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CLT comfortably leads the preference of workers
The survey data shows that formal employment ranks ahead of all other work modalities. According to the survey, 36.3% prefer formal employment, while 18.7% consider freelance work to be a better option.
Following that, 12.3% find informal employment more attractive, 10.3% show interest in work through digital platforms, 9.3% prefer to start their own business, and 6.6% choose to work as a legal entity. Additionally, 20% say they have not found attractive opportunities.
This picture indicates that, despite the diversification of the market, formal employment is still seen as the most desired path by a significant portion of the population. The CLT continues to be perceived as the modality that delivers the most predictability and protection.
Young people further drive the preference for formal employment
Among the youngest, the strength of the CLT is even more evident. The survey shows that 41.4% of workers aged 25 to 34 prefer formal employment, while among those aged 16 to 24, this figure reaches 38.1%.
These numbers suggest that entering the job market is still very much associated with the search for security. At the beginning of their professional lives, the weight of stability seems to speak louder than the promise of flexibility offered by other forms of employment.
According to the CNI’s Policy and Industry specialist, Claudia Perdigão, formal employment provides more security for young people, who seek greater stability at the beginning of their careers. This understanding helps explain why the CLT remains competitive even in the face of changes in the world of work.
Digital platforms appear more as a source of supplementary income
Although work through apps and platforms has increased in presence in recent years, the research indicates that this modality is still not seen predominantly as a primary career choice. In the survey, only 30% consider this activity as their main source of income.
This shows that, for a good portion of workers, digital platforms function more as supplementary income than as a definitive replacement for formal employment. The data reinforces that the advancement of these modalities has not diminished the value attributed to formal contracts.
The comparison helps to put the debate in perspective. The growth of new forms of work exists, but it does not necessarily mean a loss of attractiveness of the CLT.
High satisfaction helps explain low search for new positions
Another important point of the survey is the level of satisfaction with current employment. According to the research, 95% say they are satisfied with the work they do, and 70% claim to be very satisfied.
At the same time, 4.6% declare themselves dissatisfied and 1.6% very dissatisfied. This picture helps to understand why the search for new positions appears relatively low. When the majority says they are satisfied, mobility in the market naturally tends to decrease.
The research shows that only 20% have sought another job recently. Among young people aged 16 to 24, this percentage rises to 35%, while among workers over 60, it drops to 6%.
Time in employment influences the desire to change
The survey also shows that time in the position affects the willingness to seek another opportunity. Among those with less than a year in their current job, 36.7% have sought a new position recently.
However, among workers with more than five years in the same role, this figure plummets to 9%. This suggests that longer tenures tend to reduce the desire to change, whether due to adaptation or a greater sense of stability.
This difference helps to create a broader picture of the job market. The desire for change exists, but it is stronger among those who are still in the early stages of adaptation or building their professional trajectory.
CLT remains strong even with the flexibilization of labor relations
The CNI study reinforces that the advancement of new modalities has not erased the symbolic and practical strength of formal employment in Brazil. The existence of more options in the market has not eliminated the preference for a model that offers rights, predictability, and social protection.
In this scenario, the CLT appears not only as a tradition but as a concrete choice for a significant portion of workers. The most important data from the research may be precisely there: even with so much change in the market, formal employment continues to be seen as a safe harbor.
The survey, conducted by the Nexus Institute in partnership with the CNI, interviewed 2,008 people aged 16 and older across the country. The research was conducted between October 10 and 15, 2025, and released now.
Debate on work shows the gap between discourse and real preference
The survey results also expose a difference between what tends to be highlighted on social media and what workers actually desire. The digital debate often suggests a decline of the formal model, but the numbers show a different reality.
In practice, the CLT still comfortably leads, is especially valued among young people, and remains associated with security in an increasingly fragmented job market. At the same time, the high satisfaction with current employment shows that many workers are not in constant motion seeking new positions.
This picture helps to understand that the market may be changing, but not in the simplified way that part of the debate tends to suggest.
In your opinion, does the CLT continue to be the best choice for most workers, or should new forms of work gain more space in the coming years?
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