Brazil added 921,645 formal jobs in the first half of 2026, a gain of 1.96% over the period. The figures come from Novo Caged data released by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. Over the previous 12 months, the net increase reached 963,921 jobs, up 2.1%. As a result, the country had around 48 million workers with formal employment contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n
Services generated the most positions, adding 571,926 jobs, a rise of 2.5%. Public administration, education and health were the main drivers. Meanwhile, construction recorded the strongest percentage growth. It added 168,962 positions, an increase of 5.73%.<\/p>\n\n\n
Industry also expanded, creating 143,442 jobs, up 1.6%. Agriculture added another 40,853 positions. Trade, however, was the only sector with a negative balance. It lost 3,514 jobs during the first six months of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n
In June alone, Brazil added 145,161 jobs, with gains across all five major economic sectors. Once again, services led the way, accounting for 74,514 positions that month. S\u00e3o Paulo recorded the largest first-half increase among the states, with 252,558 jobs. Next came Minas Gerais, with 108,977, followed by Paran\u00e1, with 69,638.<\/p>\n\n\n
The data also show that workers aged 24 or younger accounted for 86.4% of new hires during the period. Growth was strongest among people who had completed secondary school. In addition, the average starting salary reached R$2,404.34 in June. That was 0.7% above May and 1.2% higher than a year earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n