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Only 12% of High School Students in Brazil Show Interest in Pursuing Engineering, According to New Research. The Deficit of Professionals Exceeds 75,000, While Flaws in Basic Education and High Costs Deter New Talent.
Engineering, the foundation of the country’s infrastructure, energy, and technology, faces a shortage of professionals while losing interest among students.
Data cited by the National Confederation of Industry points to a deficit of 75,000 engineers, while research from the Locomotiva Institute, commissioned by the CIEE, indicates that only 12% of high school students plan to pursue Engineering.
This scenario combines low attraction to the career, difficulties in mathematics, flaws in basic education, and high graduation costs.
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Strategic Role and Expanding Deficit
Without enough engineers, projects for mobility, sanitation, energy transition, and digitalization slow down.
The current state does not add up and threatens the future: demand grows, but the base of interested individuals does not keep up.
The estimate of a shortage of professionals, already in tens of thousands, serves as a warning for governments, companies, and universities.
Low Interest Among High School Students
The study by the Locomotiva Institute, requested by the CIEE, shows that Engineering currently attracts a minority.
In population terms, this percentage represents just over 2.3 million young people in Brazil.
For a country of continental size, this number is considered small given the needs for expansion of construction, maintenance of infrastructure, and industrial innovation.
Mathematics Becomes a Barrier in School
The disconnect begins before college entrance exams. More than one-third of students report feeling insecure with content that requires mathematical reasoning.
The average self-confidence in the subject is 5.2 on a scale of 0 to 10, and only 16% say they feel “very confident” in handling calculations.
Not surprisingly, among those who dismiss Engineering, 22% cite mathematics as the main reason. Without a solid foundation, the career appears distant, and talents scatter.
Insufficient Basic Education Deters Graduation
Perceptions about school quality help explain the lack of interest.
According to the research, 79% state that flaws in basic education discourage starting or continuing college.
The result describes a persistent cycle: fragile school education generates insecurity, which reduces enrollment in demanding courses, which in turn keeps the market with gaps in critical areas.
High Costs Limit Career Choices
Financial realities weigh as much as academic performance.
Eight out of ten students consider Engineering courses expensive.
Even among those interested, 23% admit the possibility of dropping out due to difficulties in affording tuition and materials.
When vocation clashes with family budget, potential engineers fall by the wayside, directly impacting the country’s competitiveness and productivity.
Field Preferences: Humanities Ahead of Exact Sciences
Besides objective barriers, choices reflect affinities. Almost half of young people (49%) express a preference for Humanities. Meanwhile, 28% say they are more inclined towards Exact Sciences.
The choice of fields of knowledge different from what the market demands reinforces the importance of presenting Engineering more broadly, highlighting its various paths—from software to energy, sanitation to data—and connecting the profession to social, environmental, and innovation issues.
Gender Breakdown Exposes Imbalance
The disparity between boys and girls deepens the challenge.
While 20% of male students intend to pursue Engineering, only 5% of female students express this interest.
This imbalance reduces the total number of entrants and restricts diversity of perspectives in solving complex problems.
Specific incentives for girls—from basic education to university—can broaden access and enrich technical teams in the future.
What Further Deters Young People from Engineering
The reasons for disinterest fall into three main categories:
- 46% say they prefer other fields.
- 22% cite difficulties with calculations.
- 8% mention financial barriers.
Together, these factors shape the decision not to pursue a career that requires a solid mathematical foundation, long-term investment, and understanding of the engineer’s role in society.
Consequences for Industry and Innovation
The shortage of formal engineers pressures companies that need to modernize processes, incorporate automation, and meet sustainability goals.
Infrastructure projects become more expensive and time-consuming when there are fewer qualified professionals to plan, execute, and oversee construction.
In technology-intensive sectors, the gap in skilled labor pushes organizations to import ready-made solutions, reducing local development and competency building.
How to Increase Attractiveness Without Losing Rigor
The research suggests paths for joint mobilization.
Clearer communication about the diversity of profiles in Engineering can draw students with distinct skills closer, not just those who already feel comfortable with calculations.
Practical experiences during high school and college—laboratories, prototyping projects, internships, and real challenges—help connect theory and application, increasing confidence.
Integrating Engineering into the school curriculum through problem-solving activities and introducing computational thinking contributes to reducing the perception that the field is abstract or inaccessible.
Valuing teachers’ roles, with ongoing training and updated materials, supports basic education and enhances students’ autonomy in mathematics and science.
Inclusion and Retention: Focus on Girls and the Most Vulnerable
Combating gender stereotypes from an early age is an essential part of the strategy.
Incentives for more girls to consider Exact Sciences—science fairs, mentoring, examples of professionals, and visibility of female pathways in Engineering—tend to broaden the entry funnel.
At the same time, retention policies and financial support reduce dropout rates due to costs, keeping in university students who have already shown interest and potential.
Role of CIEE and School-Company Partnerships
By commissioning the survey, CIEE signals the importance of listening to young people’s voices and identifying concrete bottlenecks.
The connection between schools, universities, and companies can adjust curricula, prioritize emerging skills, and open doors for internships and apprenticeships.
The earlier a student sees practical meaning in the content, the greater the chance of persisting until graduation and occupying positions that are currently open.
In light of this scenario, a question arises for those formulating public policies, managing schools, and leading companies: what immediate actions can transform young people’s perceptions of Engineering while also breaking down the learning and cost barriers that distance it from the horizon of so many talents?
Sou engenheiro e bem inserido no mercado, pelas especialidades. A matéria não trás o real quadro quê é de desrespeito com os profissionais que são mal remunerados, a responsabilidade é da política de governo que equaliza tudo por baixo.
Balela. A indústria nacional foi sucateada a partir da década de 90. Em 2010 engenheiros em formação já não conseguiam estágio, e quando formados eram contratados cono analistas. Esses desanimaram e novos desistiram, só prosperou na engenharia quem conseguiu escapar do Brasil, ou quem foi apadrinhado em uma multi nacional.
Política pública é importar tudo da China.
Matéria sem contexto… Como faltam profissionais se os formados não conseguem empregos e quando conseguem é como analista?
Como analista você ganha o mesmo que outras formaçoes mais “fáceis” e com durações menores.