Growth of sugarcane agroindustry and qualification of labor in Goiás (2006-2013)

Abstract

Sugarcane agroindustry in the state Goiás, during the moment of boom in the second of the 2000s, had to deal with an obstacle related to the lack of skilled labor. It occurred insofar as mechanization projects moved forward and the conditions of producing in Brazilian Savannas brought the necessity of workers that the region was not able to provide. Hiring them from other regions, especially São Paulo, increased wage costs and affected investments profitability. Moreover, few were adapted to the lifestyle of Goiás’small cities where sugarcane-processing plants are located. Our aim is to analyze the mechanisms that allowed the region to overcome the absence of qualified labor, supporting the development of sugarcane agroindustry. The paper discusses the growth of ethanol and sugar production in Goiás between 2006 and 2013. Thereafter, we show how it influenced the creation of a demand and supply of workers with the skills required in this activity.