The cooperative business model continues to prove its strength as a vital force for job creation and economic opportunity across Brazil. Even as the broader labor market evolves, cooperatives are consistently generating employment and fostering community development, a trend highlighted on this year's Worker's Day.
Recent data from the Organization of Brazilian Cooperatives (OCB) underscores the sector's impact. Cooperatives nationwide are responsible for more than 578,000 direct jobs. The state of Rio Grande do Sul alone contributes approximately 80,000 of those positions, demonstrating the model's regional significance.
A prime example of this growth is the Cresol financial cooperative. In 2025, Cresol reported a total of 11,894 employees, marking a substantial 33% increase over the previous two years. The vast majority of this workforce, about 83.57% or 9,941 professionals, is concentrated in Brazil's southern region. These employees operate across more than 1,000 branches in 20 states, playing a strategic role in the institution's operations.
Cresol's leadership emphasizes that its people are the core of its mission. The president of Central Cresol Sicoper, Carlos Cupercini, stated that employees give meaning to the cooperative's daily work and secure its future. This philosophy translates into tangible investments in workforce development. For instance, Cresol Raiz, a cooperative based in Frederico Westphalen, has already provided over 75 training sessions this year and invested more than R$300,000 in professional formation for its approximately 520 staff members.
Beyond training, Cresol initiatives aim to enhance employee well-being. One program encourages healthy habits and supports local agriculture by providing a monthly allowance for employees to spend at registered local markets and stands. Additional health and educational benefits further contribute to a secure environment for employees and their families.
This commitment to its workforce has earned Cresol significant external recognition. In 2025, the cooperative was named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Latin America by the Great Place To Work (GPTW) Latam ranking. The evaluation considers factors like leadership, recognition, and well-being, based on feedback from over one million employees across the continent. Cresol currently averages about 200 open job positions across various states.
The cooperative model's broader national footprint is substantial. Brazil is home to over 4,300 cooperatives across different sectors, collectively engaging more than 25 million members. The Cresol system itself, with 30 years of history, serves over one million members through its 1,000 branches, providing personalized financial solutions to individuals, businesses, and rural enterprises.
The sustained growth of institutions like Cresol highlights how the cooperative structure prioritizes collective advancement and community integration. As noted by Tais de Lima Pagani, coordinator of people development at Central Cresol Brasil, people are the protagonists of cooperativism, driving growth and opportunity in their communities. Based on reporting from g1.