Business · Economy · 5 hrs ago
Brazilian retailers face high staff turnover and shortages of skilled workers
Half of Brazilian retail companies replaced more than 20% of their staff in the 12 months covered by a new salary survey.
Seventy-seven percent said they struggle to find qualified workers, and retail turnover was higher than in the other sectors surveyed.
The survey questioned 5,762 professionals and 1,955 companies across 15 sectors of Brazil’s economy.
Workers often consider leaving for reasons beyond pay, including limited career prospects and unmotivating managers.
Retail work can also be hard to combine with study and personal life because of changing shifts and weekend hours.
Frequent staff changes raise hiring and training costs and can affect customer service.
More than half of retail companies do not plan to give pay rises beyond required adjustments next year, leaving retention as a continuing challenge.
Half of Brazilian retail companies replaced more than 20% of their staff in the past 12 months, according to a Michael Page survey.
The survey found that 77% of retail companies had difficulty finding qualified workers.
In São Paulo, retail staff turnover reached 63.3% in the 12 months to June 2026, the highest level since 2022.
Workers cited limited career prospects and demotivating leadership as reasons they might leave, while retail employers face limits on salary increases.
A specialist said temporary work, difficult schedules and weekend shifts can make it harder to retain staff.
- Who
- Brazilian retail companies and workers, according to a Michael Page survey.
- What
- The sector faces high staff turnover and difficulty finding qualified workers.
- When
- The survey reports staff changes over the 12 months before its findings; São Paulo turnover figures cover the 12 months to June 2026.
- Where
- Brazil, with separate turnover figures for São Paulo.
- Why
- Workers may leave because of limited career prospects, demotivating leadership, temporary work and difficult schedules; companies also report difficulty finding qualified professionals.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Retail staff turnover in São Paulo reached 63.3%, according to FecomercioSP.
Estadão reported findings from the Michael Page Salary Guide 2027 on retail turnover and hiring difficulties.
- Retail companies replacing more than 20% of staff
- 50%
- Retail companies reporting difficulty finding qualified workers
- 77%
- São Paulo retail turnover, 12 months to June 2026
- 63.3%
- Vesting, textiles and footwear turnover in São Paulo
- 79.1%
- Supermarket turnover in São Paulo
- 72.1%
- Retail companies not planning raises beyond mandatory adjustments
- 53%
1 source
What people are saying
Many times retail is seen as a temporary job. People are working as salespeople in stores to supplement their income while studying. As soon as they graduate, or close to graduation, they end up going for an internship or looking for a job in their fields of study.
They have their weekends heavily committed, because they get only one Sunday off per month, working every weekend.