Brazil’s Industrial Sector Marks Third Year of Job Growth

In 2022, Brazil’s industrial sector added 200,000 new jobs, marking a 2.6% increase from the previous year.

This growth, announced by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), represents a trend of rising employment for three years running.

While the sector celebrates this continuous rise, it contrasts with a broader challenge.

Over the last decade, the industrial workforce saw a reduction of 745,500 positions from a high in 2013 of 9,029,154 workers. As of last year, the workforce numbered 8,283,657.

In the same breath, 2022 recorded a historical high with 346,105 industries in operation. Among these, 6,673 extract resources while 339,432 transform raw materials into goods.

These sectors together brought in revenues of R$6.7 trillion and produced goods worth R$2.5 trillion ($454 billion).

Most of this value came from the manufacturing side, accounting for 89.3% of the total.

Focusing on employment specifics, the food manufacturing sector remains the largest employer, engaging 22.8% of industrial workers.

Following it, the apparel and metal products sectors employ 7% and 5.9%, respectively.

Wages also tell a part of the story. The average industrial wage in 2022 was 3.1 times the minimum wage, slightly less than in 2013 by 0.3.

Both extractive and manufacturing wages have seen declines, indicating broader economic pressures.

This narrative of growth amidst challenges highlights the resilience and evolving nature of Brazil’s industrial landscape.

The increase in jobs amidst a decade of losses reflects both recovery and transformation, crucial for understanding economic shifts in one of the world’s most vibrant markets.

This context not only underscores the adaptability of industries but also the vital role they play in shaping economic futures and providing livelihoods across Brazil.