In September, the number of young people hired as apprentices through the Law 10,097/2000 reached 710,875. The result indicates the seventh consecutive month of increase, according to a survey by the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE), based on the General Register of Employed and Unemployed Persons (Caged) database. It is also the seventh record recorded.
The historical series began in January 2020, with 454,972 young apprentices. The numbers then increased after the end of the pandemic, in 2022, and with the regulation of the Law, in December 2023, which made hiring through the program mandatory for medium and large companies.
In that month (December 2023), 539 thousand young people between 14 and 24 years old were covered by the Apprenticeship Law. In 20 months, the number of contractors increased by around 30%.
In the same period, unemployment measured by IBGE fell from 7.4% to 5.6%, indicating a more modest increase in the job market.
Hiring apprentices is mandatory for medium and large companies that have at least seven employees in roles that require professional training. The legal hiring quota varies between 5% and 15% of the total of these positions.
Remuneration
Another indicator found in the index, the average salary of young apprentices, fell from R$955 in July (a series record) to R$920 in the last part of September.
In December 2023, the average salary was R$846. At the beginning of the historical series, in January 2020, the average salary was R$704.
According to the MTE, 15,357 new apprentices were hired in September, with the Services sector leading the hires (5,510), followed by Industry (4,307), Commerce (2,830), Civil Construction (2,231) and Agriculture (478).
From January to September, the balance of hired employees reached 111,976 new apprentices.
Young people aged 14 to 24 can be hired as apprentices, as long as they are enrolled in professional qualification institutions accredited by the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
The young apprentice is entitled to FGTS at a rate of 2%, 13th salary, transport vouchers and holidays, which should preferably coincide with the school break.
The program offers remuneration proportional to the minimum wage per hour worked, with reduced working hours of up to six hours per day.
