Education / Professionalization|ESG
Despite the growing participation of women in the labor market, women continue to earn less than men. Gender and race deepen these inequalities, highlighting the importance of taking action to change this situation.
The gender pay gap remains a challenge in the Brazilian labor market. According to a report released by Brazil’s Ministry of Labor in 2026, the pay gap has widened over the past two years: women earn an average of 21% less than men. This situation shows that expanding access to employment is important, but not enough to ensure equal opportunities for professional development and fair compensation.
Despite the growing number of women in formal employment, the pay gap persists. Black women face even greater obstacles, demonstrating how gender and race intersect to shape social and economic inequalities.
Pay inequality stems from factors that go beyond differences in compensation for the same job. One of the main causes is the unequal distribution of household responsibilities and caregiving duties for children and family members. Other barriers that hinder many women’s career progression include limited access to leadership positions and gender discrimination.
The report’s figures reveal the scale of the problem. While men in formal employment earn an average of R$ 5,039.68, women earn R$ 3,965.94. The pay gap has also widened in executive and management positions, increasing from 25% to nearly 27%.
Racial inequality further compounds the problem. In 2025, average earnings for Black women increased by 3.7%, below the growth recorded among women overall (4.8%) and men (5.8%). Compared with non-Black men, the group with the highest average earnings, Black women earned just 42% of their income.
Brazil’s Equal Pay Law, which has been in effect since 2023, establishes mechanisms to combat pay discrimination between women and men. Nevertheless, the figures show that legislation must be accompanied by enforcement, transparency, and meaningful changes in organizational practices.
Achieving equity requires ongoing action from businesses, educational institutions, government, and society. In the workplace, this means reviewing compensation and promotion criteria, ensuring access to professional training, combating discriminatory practices, and increasing women’s representation in leadership positions.
It is also essential to invest in education from early childhood and encourage girls to explore fields where women still face barriers, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Access to knowledge, culture, and professional training broadens career options and strengthens independence.
Instituto Ramacrisna develops initiatives aligned with the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
As part of its commitment to a fairer labor market, Instituto Ramacrisna also strives to promote gender equity in its workplace. Women currently account for 57% of its workforce, while men represent 43%. This representation is also reflected in leadership positions: of the institution’s 47 leadership roles, 28 are held by women and 19 by men. These figures highlight women’s presence in decision-making positions and demonstrate the importance of building workplaces that expand opportunities and value professional skills, regardless of gender.
In education, Ramacrisna also runs projects aimed at girls and encourages their participation in a wide range of activities. The Meninas em Rede (Girls in Network) project, for example, encourages teenage girls to pursue careers in technology. In its Website and App Development course, participants learn to create interfaces, structure databases, and develop applications, expanding their skills and career prospects.
The Ramacrisna FabLab also helps democratize access to technology by providing digital fabrication equipment and opportunities to develop creative projects and solutions. Meanwhile, the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra promotes music education, teamwork, and female leadership through the arts.
During childhood and adolescence, access to education, sports, and culture is also essential to expanding opportunities and challenging gender stereotypes. At the Center for Learning and Essential Experiences (NAVE), girls and boys take part in educational support, sports, and cultural activities that contribute to their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development. By offering diverse learning opportunities, the initiative helps strengthen skills, foster independence, and broaden children’s and teenagers’ horizons.
Promoting equity means creating the conditions for girls and women to develop their talents, achieve independence, and access opportunities throughout their lives. To learn more about Ramacrisna’s initiatives and discover how you can contribute to this transformation, get in touch and become part of this movement for good.
