Montes Claros Job Growth Up Nearly 40% Year-Over-Year
In May, Montes Claros saw a net increase of 197 jobs, with 4,396 professionals hired and 4,199 laid off, according to the General Registry of Employed and Unemployed (CAGED) data released by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. The total number of formally employed individuals in the city reached 96,570. The Services sector was the primary driver, accounting for 2,627 hires and a positive balance of 190 positions. The Industry sector also contributed positively, with 433 admissions and a surplus of 72 jobs.
From January to May of 2026, all months recorded a positive hiring balance. January saw 220 net new jobs, February added 356, March had a significant increase of 693, and April registered 381. Cumulatively, from January to May 2026, 1,831 new jobs have been created through 23,821 hires and 21,990 dismissals. This represents an average of over 305 new vacancies per month, marking a 37% rise compared to the same period in 2025, which had a total of 1,336 net new jobs.
The reported job growth in Montes Claros, a 37% increase in net new positions from January-May 2026 compared to the previous year, highlights a positive economic trend. The dominance of the Services sector in this expansion suggests a local economy increasingly reliant on service-based industries. This growth pattern, if sustained, could indicate a maturing local economy but also raises questions about diversification and resilience in the face of potential sector-specific downturns. Future economic planning may benefit from fostering growth in other sectors to ensure a more robust and balanced employment landscape, mitigating risks associated with over-reliance on a single industry.
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