Micro and Small Businesses have already hired more than half a million in 2025

From January to April, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) hired 546,833 people nationwide. This number represents almost 60% of all new hires. According to a survey by Sebrae, based on the General Register of Employed and Unemployed Persons (Caged), In April alone, more than 171.2 thousand new jobs were created by SMEs – composed of Microenterprises (ME) and Small Businesses (EPP) (66.5% of jobs created).

Small businesses are the driving force behind our country's development, generating employment and income so that our population has more dignity.

Décio Lima, president of Sebrae.

“These are men and women who wake up in the morning and never give up. They use their creativity to create their own businesses, ensuring inclusion and supporting the growth of the economy led by President Lula and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin,” he added.

In April, the Services sector saw the largest number of job openings among SMEs, with 83.8 thousand new registrations, followed by Commerce (37.9 thousand) and Construction (29.2 thousand).

Optimism

Small business hiring data reinforces the moment of optimism in the Brazilian economy. This Thursday (29), the Continuous Monthly National Household Sampling Survey (PNAD), by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), showed that the number of people with a formal employment contract in the private sector between February and April reached its record: 39.6 million people are working — a growth of 0.8% compared to the previous moving quarter and 3.8% compared to the same quarter in 2024.

According to the research, the unemployment rate in Brazil for the quarter from February to April 2025 was 6.6% — which represents stability in relation to the quarter from November 2024 to January 2025 (6.5%) and a drop of 1.0 percentage points (pp) compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Another point to be celebrated is the reduction in the informality rate, which fell from 38.3% in the previous three-month period to 37.9%. The number reflects the stability of the number of workers without a formal employment contract (13.7 million), accompanied by the stability of the number of self-employed workers (26.0 million).

Brazil's economy is only improving. The employment rate we have achieved is one of the best rates the country has ever seen. An unemployment rate of 6.6% represents almost the level we will achieve in the Brazilian economy, still under this government, which is full employment. Brazil is back for Brazilians.

Décio Lima, president of Sebrae.