A evolução das ocupações por competências e habilidades no setor industrial brasileiro

Abstract

This study investigates the impacts of technological innovations on the occupational structure of the Brazilian industrial sector from 2005 to 2022, considering the country's formal labor market. To support this analysis, key concepts such as technological innovation, creative destruction, Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, and skill polarization were explored. The methodology is based on a quantitative analysis using data from the Relação Anual de Informações Sociais (RAIS) and the Classificação Brasileira de Ocupações (CBO). Occupational families were classified according to the predominant skill type— technical/manual or cognitive—based on their official descriptions and activities. The results indicate a significant increase in the total number of formal employment ties within the industrial sector throughout the analyzed period, with fluctuations linked to the country’s political and economic context. A gradual rise in cognitive occupations was observed, although technical/manual occupations remained predominant, suggesting an ongoing reconfiguration of occupational structures based on the skills required. Therefore, the study concludes that technological innovations, within the analyzed sector and timeframe, do not lead to a homogeneous replacement of technical/manual occupations but rather to a progressive reconfiguration of the labor market. The findings contribute to discussions on the need to update the CBO in response to labor market changes and highlight the importance of public planning focused on professional development, adaptation, and qualification in the face of digital transformations.