Working for oneself attracts the majority of Brazilians, reveals Datafolha.
Preference for self-employment reaches 59%, and rejection of formal employment contracts (CLT) is growing, even with lower salaries, according to a national survey.
247 - A survey by the Datafolha institute, published by FSP A study released on June 21st revealed that 59% of Brazilians prefer to work independently, while only 39% consider it better to be hired by companies. This unprecedented study points to a growing trend of valuing self-employment, especially among younger people and right-wing voters.
Although the survey included face-to-face interviews in 136 municipalities across the country, with 2.004 people interviewed on June 10th and 11th, the question about what is better—working independently or being employed—was asked for the first time, making comparison with previous years impossible. Even so, other comparable data from 2022 show a 10 percentage point increase in the proportion of Brazilians who prioritize financial gain over formal employment.
Devaluation of the CLT (Brazilian labor law) and the search for flexibility.
Between 2022 and 2025, the percentage of Brazilians who prefer a job with a formal employment contract, even if it means lower pay, fell from 77% to 67%. During the same period, the number of those willing to forgo formal employment in exchange for higher salaries increased from 21% to 31%.
The decline in the value placed on the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) seems to be associated, according to economist Daniel Duque, a researcher at FGV/Ibre, with cultural and economic factors. "With a booming job market, workers realize they could earn more, but this isn't possible due to high labor costs," he assesses. He also highlights that the popularization of home office work during the pandemic and the growth of jobs through delivery, transportation, and digital commerce apps are contributing to this shift. "Increasingly, workers want jobs where they can only work what they are willing to do at that moment," Duque states.
Youth and the right wing lead the preference for self-employment.
The preference for autonomy is higher among young people aged 16 to 24: 68% prefer to work independently, compared to 29% who opt for formal employment. Among those over 60, the difference is smaller—50% prefer to be self-employed and 45% prefer traditional employment.
When broken down by party affiliation, 66% of supporters of the PL (Liberal Party), the party of former president Jair Bolsonaro, say they prefer to be self-employed. Among those who support the PT (Workers' Party), the party of president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 55% prefer independent work. The value placed on formal employment is higher among PT voters: 73% consider formal employment more important, compared to 54% of PL voters.
Profile of a worker who values formality.
Despite the growing trend of desired informality, there are segments that continue to prioritize formal employment. Women (71%) value formal employment more than men (62%). The same is true for older people: among Brazilians over 60, 79% still consider formal employment more important.
Income and education also influence this perception. Among those earning up to two minimum wages, 72% consider having a formal employment contract important. However, among those earning more than ten minimum wages, this percentage drops to 56%. The lower the level of education, the greater the attachment to formal employment: 75% of those with primary education support formal employment, compared to 66% of those with secondary education and 59% of those with higher education.
The breakdown by profession reinforces the difference: 80% of retirees and 72% of public servants are more in favor of the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) regime. In regional terms, formal employment is more valued in the Northeast (69%), Southeast (67%), and South (66%), and less so in the North and Central-West regions (both at 62%).
Political views and the future of work
The research also cross-referenced the data with the political perceptions of the respondents. Among those who rate President Lula as "excellent" or "good," 76% value formal employment contracts; among those who rate him as "bad" or "terrible," this percentage drops to 57%. Meanwhile, among those optimistic about the country, 72% consider formal employment contracts important, compared to 62% of pessimists.
According to Daniel Duque, the scenario points to structural changes in the Brazilian labor model: “I believe that political pressure to reduce labor costs will grow, since the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws) is currently unattractive to workers who are slightly more qualified than average. And younger people are taking over the job market, and they are looking for greater flexibility.”
The Datafolha survey thus signals a country in transition: between the security of formality and the freedom of autonomy, Brazilians seem increasingly inclined to bet on the latter path — even if this implies risks and fewer guarantees.
