Atratividade urbana e retenção de talentos: uma análise do ecossistema de inovação de Juiz de Fora/MG

Abstract

This study analyzes the urban attractiveness of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, from the perspective of talent retention, with a specific focus on recent graduates of the Administration program. The objective is to identify the factors that influence these professionals’ decisions to remain in the city or migrate to other municipalities after completing their undergraduate studies, considering the local socioeconomic context and the city’s innovation ecosystem. Methodologically, this is a qualitative, exploratory study based on semi-structured interviews with graduates of the Administration program at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis, enabling the identification of categories related to job opportunities, remuneration, quality of life, professional growth prospects, organizational environment, and the articulation of the innovation ecosystem. The results indicate that the decision to stay or migrate is not determined by a single factor, but rather by a combination of economic, institutional, cultural, and urban elements. The findings reveal a widespread perception that remuneration and professional opportunities in the municipality are insufficient and poorly aligned with the qualification level of recent graduates, as well as limited prospects for career advancement, associated with the predominance of small and medium-sized enterprises and the absence of professional management structures. Although Juiz de Fora is recognized by respondents as having an existing entrepreneurial and innovative environment, it remains fragmented and weakly articulated. Conversely, affective ties and quality of life emerge as relevant factors encouraging permanence in the city. Finally, remote work stands out as a central alternative that allows individuals to reconcile territorial permanence with access to better professional opportunities. It is concluded that talent retention in the municipality depends on strengthening the local innovation ecosystem, expanding qualified professional opportunities, and enhancing the integration between academic training, the labor market, and public policies aimed at young professionals at the beginning of their careers.