In January 2026, the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil reported the creation of 18,700 formal jobs, as revealed in a communiqué from the Ministry of Labor and Employment. This achievement positions Mato Grosso as the state with the second-highest job growth, only behind Santa Catarina, which created 19,000 jobs. The data is based on the General Register of Employed and Unemployed, focusing solely on formally employed individuals with signed work agreements, excluding informal workers.

The job creation in Mato Grosso was driven predominantly by the agricultural sector, which saw a net increase of 10,000 jobs. Other sectors making significant contributions included construction, with 1,600 jobs; services, with 5,000; industry, with 1,100; and commerce, which added 844 positions. In January, layoffs totaled 51,090 while there were 69,821 new hires, further indicating an active labor market within the state.

Despite the positive job growth, analysts from Banco do Brasil have expressed caution regarding the state’s economic outlook, projecting a slight decrease in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for Mato Grosso. This reflects ongoing concerns surrounding market sustainability and the potential impacts of fluctuating economic conditions on job stability, particularly in the vital agricultural sector.