By IANS/EFE,
Sao Paulo : Brazilian employers were unable to fill 1.6 million jobs in 2009 due to a lack of qualified workers, especially in the areas of engineering, nutrition and dietetics, the Sine public employment agency network said.
Low educational levels were identified as the principal factor in not filling these jobs in 2009, which the global financial crisis turned into the worst year for job creation in the South American country since 2003.
Of the job openings posted by Sine, just 39 percent were filled last year, compared to 42 percent in 2008 and 48 percent in 2007.
Brazil’s monthly unemployment rate averaged 8.9 percent in 2009, up from the 7.9 percent average monthly jobless rate a year earlier, despite thousands of jobs being available for qualified workers.
Economic growth in 2008 led to job creation in industry, but the lack of skilled workers could be a problem in future, Sine said.
The pharmaceutical, construction and shipbuilding industries also have jobs going unfilled due to a lack of qualified workers.