Global CityIntelligence

Economy & jobs

Economy and jobs in São Paulo

São Paulo has a manufacturing-oriented economy with strengths in energy, manufacturing and mining.

Economy type
Industrial city
Economy score
58/100

Economy overview

São Paulo has a manufacturing-oriented economy with strengths in energy, manufacturing and mining.

São Paulo, Brazil is classified as a industrial city in our deterministic economy index. These are planning estimates derived from country economic priors and existing city signals — not measured GDP or labour-market statistics. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16.

Key industries

The sectors that most shape the local economy, derived deterministically from country and city signals.

Key industries

  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Mining
  • Automotive
  • Agriculture
  • Tourism

Employment outlook

The breadth of the labour market and where opportunities concentrate.

Employment outlook

Employment58/100
Job market58/100

São Paulo's labour market is moderate, with opportunities concentrated in manufacturing, tourism and hospitality and technology.

Salary potential

Estimated pay levels and how far local incomes stretch against the cost of living.

Salary potential

Salary potential58/100
Affordability-adjusted income65/100

The affordability-adjusted income score combines estimated pay with the local cost of living, indicating how far a typical income stretches in São Paulo.

Business environment

Conditions for operating and growing a business locally.

Business environment

Business environment57/100

This reflects infrastructure, institutional capacity, and the scale of the local market relative to peer cities.

Startup ecosystem

How supportive the local ecosystem is for new ventures.

Startup ecosystem

Startup ecosystem56/100
Innovation57/100

The startup ecosystem in São Paulo is moderate, supported by local business activity.

Remote work suitability

Suitability for remote and distributed work.

Remote work suitability

Remote work59/100
Remote job availability60/100

São Paulo offers solid infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 59/100.

Career opportunities

Overall career opportunity and how it breaks down by sector.

Career opportunities

Overall career opportunity58/100
Technology57/100
Healthcare52/100
Finance52/100
Manufacturing71/100
Tourism63/100
Education55/100

Economy score

A 0–100 composite of employment, salary, business environment, startups, innovation, remote work, and affordability-adjusted income. Used consistently across the platform.

Economy score

Economy score58/100
Employment58/100
Salary58/100
Business environment57/100
Startup ecosystem56/100
Innovation57/100
Remote work59/100

Jobs score

A 0–100 labour-market composite and its sector components.

Jobs score

Job market58/100
Technology57/100
Healthcare52/100
Finance52/100
Manufacturing71/100
Tourism63/100
Education55/100
Remote availability60/100
Career opportunity58/100

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