The resumption of the Brazilian economy ^ although at a slow pace 2024 is reflecting positively on several activities, such as the warming of the market for hiring leadership for companies. According to a survey by EXEC, a company specialized in the selection and development of senior executives and advisors, sectors that hold an important share in the country's GDP, such as industry and services, recorded a significant growth 50% and 45%, respectively 51 in the admission index of new executives to C-Level positions and directorate in the annual comparison. However, markets such as retail, logistics and a light agribusiness trend were stable.
According to Alexandre Zuvela, partner of EXEC, the survey brings good news, as it points out that companies are returning to hire leaders after a turbulent environment with the change of government last year.“The industry and services sectors lived a difficult year in 2023, accounting for a timid growth, resulting from factors such as uncertainty in the direction of the economy, the country's interest rate still at high levels, which increases the costs of production and operation, high default and indebtedness of families, among other factors. However, in 2024, it seems that this reflection has become a little more lengthening, with a perspective that the executives have a more encouraging, with a more encouraging perspective.
According to data from the Monthly Industrial Survey (PIM), produced by IBGE, the sector closed 2023 with an expansion of 0.2%, signaling stability. For this year, the prospects are more optimistic. According to the projection of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), industrial GDP should grow 2.1%, far above the result of the previous period.
Regarding the universe of services, responsible for 70% of GDP and considered one of the most important engines of the Brazilian economy, Zuvela believes that the good winds that blow in favor of the advancement of activity are being an important incentive for investment in hiring new leaders. “As well as the other markets, the services was affected by the pandemic, but shows strong resilience. In the last three years, it has remained in growth, something that has not occurred since 2014, bringing new horizons for companies and, consequently, for executives who work in this activity”, emphasizes the specialist, citing the IBGE data, which, among them, high 3rd year 23rd, highlighted in the sector.
For 2024, still with some challenges to be overcome, the estimate is that the expansion of activity is slightly lower, 1.9%, according to the projection of the National Confederation of Commerce, Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC), while the GDP of the country should expand 2.5%, according to information from the most recent Macrofiscal Bulletin released by the Secretariat of Economic Policy (SPE) of the Ministry of Finance.
Industry: construction and machinery and equipment
The survey of EXEC indicated that the strong increase in hiring executives in the industry in the first six months of 2024 had a strong influence on the movements made in the construction and real estate markets, and machinery and equipment, which accounted for a high of 75% compared to the first half of 2023.“The real estate market breathes a little more relieved, motivated by the continuous evolution of hiring, positive expectations of companies for the purchase of real estate and launches, in addition to the positive projection of growth for the sector in 2024, with the new guidelines for the Minha Casa Minha Minha Vida Vida” program” (C Chamber of the Construction 3, CBT revised Industry (CB) of the 1 of the 1 sector, forecast of the (B3rd year).
Regarding the machinery and equipment industry, the EXEC partner emphasizes that the sector is experiencing a moment of modernization of production and products, motivated by the advancement of digitalization, which requires leaders well prepared to orchestrate this movement. On the other hand, it still lives with some challenges, such as difficulties in importing and high costs.
Sectors such as health, pharmaceutical, education and IT remained stable in relation to the admission of new leaders in the period, according to the EXEC document.
Services sector
The survey also highlighted that the search for new leaders in the service market was driven by different factors, including the return of face-to-face activities in the post-pandemic, including leisure and socialization activity, improved consumer confidence, with an improvement in the economic scenario, increased family income and a greater propensity to consumption and an increase in the information technology sector with the adoption of new technologies and artificial intelligence.
Zuvela points out that all these factors have made the service sector seek more innovation and new leaders to lead the new waves of evolution in the sector.“They are leaders prepared to deal with the digital world, with the disruption and motivation of their teams to think outside the” box, he points out.
For the EXEC expert, hiring leaders in these activities should continue to be heated in the coming months. “The greater demand for executives tends to remain, as we must continue with a reasonable growth of economic activity, a scenario of greater digitalization and the improvement in household income in the coming months, which incurs new opportunities for leaders within the” sector, he concludes.
