Fresh labour-market data released on 14 December reveal that foreign workers are moving from the margins to the mainstream of Brazil’s economy. According to the latest Caged bulletin, migrants accounted for a net gain of 73,400 positions between January and October 2025—4 % of all formal jobs created this year. Almost half of those hires (47.8 %) were Venezuelans fleeing their country’s ongoing socio-economic crisis. Haitians, Argentinians and Paraguayans round out the top four nationalities.
Economists link the jump to two converging trends: Brazil’s unemployment rate dropped to a historic 5.4 %, and regional migration flows remain elevated. Labour-short sectors such as agribusiness, construction and food processing are turning to migrant labour to plug skill gaps and contain wage inflation. Employers also point to language affinity and the relative ease of hiring under the Mercosur residence agreement, which allows quick regularisation for most neighbouring nationals.
For global-mobility managers, the data confirm a more internationally diverse workforce and rising demand for Portuguese-language onboarding, tax equalisation and family-integration services. Companies sending expatriates should factor in tighter housing markets in migrant-heavy cities such as Boa Vista, Manaus and São Paulo, as well as longer queues at Federal Police offices.
![Foreign nationals now fill 4 % of Brazil’s formal new hires as Venezuelan migration surges]()
For organisations and individuals that now need to navigate Brazil’s expanding web of permits, renewals and registrations, VisaHQ can be an invaluable partner. Through its Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/), the service offers end-to-end visa processing, real-time tracking and multilingual support, helping HR teams stay compliant while allowing foreign hires to focus on their new roles.
Labour inspectors, meanwhile, are increasing workplace audits and cross-checking Caged entries against visa categories. Fines for informal employment of foreigners start at R$800 per worker and can exceed R$100,000 for repeat offenders. Analysts expect the foreign share of new hires to keep climbing if Brazil’s economy stays on a 2 %-plus growth track and regional instability persists.
While the trend eases pressure on employers struggling to fill vacancies, it also intensifies the need for robust immigration-compliance frameworks and culturally sensitive HR policies.
Economists link the jump to two converging trends: Brazil’s unemployment rate dropped to a historic 5.4 %, and regional migration flows remain elevated. Labour-short sectors such as agribusiness, construction and food processing are turning to migrant labour to plug skill gaps and contain wage inflation. Employers also point to language affinity and the relative ease of hiring under the Mercosur residence agreement, which allows quick regularisation for most neighbouring nationals.
For global-mobility managers, the data confirm a more internationally diverse workforce and rising demand for Portuguese-language onboarding, tax equalisation and family-integration services. Companies sending expatriates should factor in tighter housing markets in migrant-heavy cities such as Boa Vista, Manaus and São Paulo, as well as longer queues at Federal Police offices.
For organisations and individuals that now need to navigate Brazil’s expanding web of permits, renewals and registrations, VisaHQ can be an invaluable partner. Through its Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/), the service offers end-to-end visa processing, real-time tracking and multilingual support, helping HR teams stay compliant while allowing foreign hires to focus on their new roles.
Labour inspectors, meanwhile, are increasing workplace audits and cross-checking Caged entries against visa categories. Fines for informal employment of foreigners start at R$800 per worker and can exceed R$100,000 for repeat offenders. Analysts expect the foreign share of new hires to keep climbing if Brazil’s economy stays on a 2 %-plus growth track and regional instability persists.
While the trend eases pressure on employers struggling to fill vacancies, it also intensifies the need for robust immigration-compliance frameworks and culturally sensitive HR policies.
