Youth want to work, but the market still doesn’t know how to include them, study reveals

A new portrait of the Brazilian job market reveals a problem that goes far beyond the lack of vacancies. The unprecedented research “Common Horizon”, by the PROA Institute, reveals that the main challenge of youth employability is the mismatch between expectations, social reality and corporate practices that are still not very inclusive.

With more than 500 participants, including young people and employers, the study shows that the desire to work exists, and is strong. Around 75% of young people say they want to build a career, but almost half don’t know how to take their first steps into the formal market.

On the other hand, companies continue to operate with traditional models that do little to reflect the reality of young people. The research shows that employers still treat young people as a homogeneous group, ignoring factors such as social origin, access to education and cultural differences, which makes effective inclusion difficult.

Another fact that draws attention is the work environment. Only 36% of young people feel welcome in companies, while a significant number report negative experiences, such as disrespect and lack of recognition.

Precariousness outside the corporate environment also weighs heavily. The majority of young people live on a family income of up to two minimum wages and face basic limitations, such as a lack of adequate space for study or remote work. This scenario directly impacts performance and job retention.

For companies, the problem is usually interpreted as a lack of preparation or commitment. However, the study suggests the opposite: high turnover and difficulty in retention are more linked to the lack of growth prospects, unwelcoming environments and lack of structured development programs.

The arrival of Artificial Intelligence adds a new layer to the debate. Although it is seen as an innovation tool, more than 70% of companies still do not discuss its impacts in a structured way, especially in entry-level positions.

Among young people, the use of technology is already a reality, but in a disorganized way and without guidance. The result is a paradoxical scenario: AI can open doors, but also reinforce exclusions, especially when used in automated selection processes without inclusive criteria.

The study concludes that the problem of youth employability is not just technical qualifications, but structural, symbolic and relational issues. The solution, according to PROA, involves a key concept: mediation.

This means creating real bridges between companies and young people, reviewing recruitment practices, investing in training and, above all, recognizing that productive inclusion does not just happen with speech, but with concrete changes in structures.

In the end, the question that remains is not whether young people are prepared for the market.

It’s whether the market is ready for them.

Credits:
Content based on the research “Common Horizon: Youth and Employers in the Productive Inclusion Agenda”, developed by the PROA Institute.

Find out more and access the complete material at:
https://www.proa.org.br