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Study shows that 170 young people from Rio entered the job market between 2021 and 2024
Published on 11/09/2025 - 14:03 | Updated on 12/09/2025 - 11:03
The unemployment rate for young people in Rio de Janeiro, aged 15 to 29, fell from 31,2% to 15,0%. Photo: Disclosure/City Hall The Rio City Hall, through the Secretariat of Economic Development and the Special Secretariat for Rio de Janeiro Youth (JUVRio), released the study “Youth Labor Market in Rio – 2021-2024”, which highlights unprecedented advances in the insertion of young people into the labor market and education in recent years.
According to data from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD Contínua/IBGE), the unemployment rate for young people in Rio de Janeiro, aged 15 to 29, fell from 31,2% to 15,0% between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2024. This 16,2 percentage point reduction represents 115,8 young people leaving unemployment during this period, dropping from 238,8 to 123,0. The 15,0% rate is the lowest recorded in the last eight years.
For 2025, the City Hall expects to further reduce the rate, reaching 13,0%.
The number of young people in the most vulnerable situation in the labor market — which includes the unemployed, underemployed (formal), discouraged, and unavailable — fell 43,3% in the same period, with a decline of 135,5 people, going from 312,7 at the end of 2020 to 177,2 in 2024. There was also a significant increase in the number of young people employed, both formal and informal: there were 170,8 more in four years, reaching the level of 698,5 workers.
When analyzed by gender, unemployment among young men fell from 28,5% to 13,0%, while among young women, the decline was from 34,7% to 17,1%. Racially, young white people fell from 28,1% to 13,1%, reaching their lowest unemployment rate in eight years. Young Black people, who traditionally face more barriers in the job market, saw an even greater reduction: from 34,6% to 16,3%. The increase in employment among Black people was significant, with 129.131 more young people employed, reaching 370,1 workers.
Another relevant finding was the decline in the percentage of young people who neither study nor work, known as "neither-nors." In 2024, this figure reached 18,4%, matching the levels of 2013 and 2014 and registering the lowest percentage in the historical series. Educational attainment also advanced significantly: between 2012 and 2024, high school completion rose from 54,6% to 71,2%, while the percentage of young people with incomplete elementary education fell from 14,7% to 5,5%. These figures point to an increase in young people's access to and retention in school, which reinforces the trend toward better integration into the labor market.
The study also presents an important qualitative reflection: although the PNAD Contínua/IBGE data do not allow for a direct causal relationship between JUVRio's public policies and the observed results, it is plausible to consider that the consolidation of a specific youth policy during this period contributed to the improvement of strategic indicators. This includes a drop in the unemployment rate, a reduction in the percentage of vulnerable youth, and an increase in educational attainment.
Among the initiatives that have gained momentum in recent years are the Youth Spaces, which offer free courses in Industry 4.0; the Pact for Youth, a program that promotes training, culture, sports, and citizenship activities, with a monthly financial aid of R$400,00; the JUV Arena, which brings sports and social interaction to the city's public spaces; and the JUV Connection, an initiative that actively listens to and develops public policies for young people in their communities. These projects demonstrate the City's commitment to creating concrete opportunities and expanding horizons for Rio's youth.
"The study proves that we're on the right track. The reduction in unemployment, especially among the most vulnerable, is the result of a joint effort to provide young people with more opportunities to thrive. Our goal is to consolidate this trend and expand market insertion policies," stated Secretary of Economic Development Osmar Lima.
"The results of these studies demonstrate two crucial components for the city: the creation of opportunities that have occurred in Rio de Janeiro, with incentives for economic activities, and the fact that young people are benefiting from these opportunities arising from this scenario. These advances demonstrate that Rio's youth have taken important steps to transform their reality. The reduction in unemployment, the increase in schooling, and the decrease in the number of vulnerable young people reflect the joint efforts of public policies and the leadership of young people themselves. Our commitment is to continue expanding opportunities so that they continue to be agents of change in our city," added Municipal Secretary of Youth Gabriella Rodrigues.
The full study is available at the Rio Economic Observatory: economic observatory.rio.
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