Dec 1, 2024 Story by: Editor
Recent data highlights notable growth in employment and education levels among Black and mixed-race Brazilians, yet significant racial disparities remain in wages and access to formal employment opportunities.
Employment Trends Reflect Demographic Shifts
Research by the Fundação Getulio Vargas’s Brazilian Institute of Economics (Ibre-FGV), using data from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD Contínua), reveals that from the second quarter of 2012 to 2024, employment among Black Brazilians grew by 23.5%, from 45.6 million to 56.3 million. This contrasts with a 2.6% growth in employed White and Asian populations, reaching 45 million.
The growth corresponds to an increase in the Black working-age population, which expanded by 23.4% over the same period, surpassing the growth rates of White and Asian populations. Educational advancements have played a role, with more Black individuals completing secondary and higher education, raising their workforce participation.
Progress in Education
Between 2012 and 2024, the percentage of Black individuals with primary education dropped from 35.6% to 29%, while those with secondary education rose from 14% to 21%, and higher education attainment doubled from 2.7% to 6.4%. Economist Janaína Feijó from Ibre-FGV notes, “In 12 years, the rate of Black working-age population with higher education more than doubled… crucial for increasing their chances of entering the job market.”
Income Disparities Persist
Despite these gains, income inequality persists. In 2024, Black workers earned an average of R$2,460, just 59.1% of the R$4,163 earned by their White and Asian counterparts. Economist Lucia Garcia of DIEESE attributes these gaps to historical exclusion: “In the formation of Brazil’s job market, there was an intention for it to be White.”
Representation in Professional Roles
Black individuals remain underrepresented in high-paying roles, occupying only 33.2% of managerial positions compared to 66.5% held by Whites. Among educators, the split is similarly unequal, with Whites holding 61.8% of roles. Black representation dominates in lower-paying sectors like construction and agricultural labor.
Voices from the Black Community
Ronaldo Tadeu de Souza, a social scientist, underscores systemic barriers, stating, “The job market reproduces surrounding inequalities… count how many Black or mixed-race employees work in banks versus those in cleaning jobs.” Similarly, educator Fernanda Sousa Teixeira recounts challenges related to “geographical racism” and limited opportunities for upward mobility in marginalized areas.
The Path Ahead
While unemployment and informality rates for Black and mixed-race Brazilians have declined, they remain higher than national averages. Affirmative action policies, though recent, are essential for addressing historical inequities. Economist Lucas Assis notes, “Although slavery was abolished, the debate did not address the inclusion of former slaves… the job market was created marked by exclusion.”
In conclusion, while educational and workforce participation improvements offer hope, Brazil must continue addressing systemic inequities to achieve true racial equity. Source: Valor International
