Rio de Janeiro was Brazil’s capital until April 21, 1960, when the powers of the Republic moved to Brasília (Senado Notícias). The capital left and several national institutions stayed. Public administration still produced 20.32 percent of the city’s gross value added in 2021, second only to Brasília among the cities in our Brazil guides (IBGE). Rio is Brazil’s second-largest city, with 6,211,223 people in 2022, and 109,223 fewer than in 2010 (IBGE).
To me, Rio is the most stunning city, and in 2016 I spent about six weeks there, around the Olympics and Carnival. During the Games my 4 PM calls on Copacabana were 3 PM in New York, and I approved ExecSearches postings from my phone.
Updated November 8, 2026
By F. Jay Hall, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ExecSearches.com
The short version
What is different about Rio’s job market?
It is a former capital that kept national institutions. The development bank BNDES, the securities regulator CVM and the public health foundation Fiocruz all have their headquarters in Rio. Industry produced 16.30 percent of the city’s gross value added in 2021 (IBGE).
How do you get a job at BNDES?
Through a concurso público. The Amazon Fund, which BNDES administers, says so on its own site: access to a professional career at BNDES is through a public exam.
Who hires
- BNDES, the national development bank, at Avenida República do Chile, 100
- Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM), the securities regulator, headquartered at Rua Sete de Setembro, 111 (CVM management report, 2021)
- Fiocruz, the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, at Avenida Brasil, 4365, in Manguinhos
- Fundação Getulio Vargas, whose schools include FGV Direito Rio, its law school in Rio
The numbers
- 6,211,223 people in 2022, second in Brazil, down 109,223 since 2010 (IBGE, SIDRA 4709)
- Public administration 20.32 percent and industry 16.30 percent of gross value added in 2021 (IBGE, SIDRA 5938)
Regulators hire compliance people, and so do the companies they regulate. See compliance jobs and international GRC jobs on GRC Careers.
Em português: O Rio de Janeiro foi a capital do Brasil até 21 de abril de 1960. Instituições nacionais continuam com sede na cidade, entre elas o BNDES, a CVM e a Fiocruz. A administração pública gerou 20,32% do valor adicionado em 2021, segundo o IBGE. No BNDES, a carreira começa por concurso público.
Related guides
- Nonprofit, government and compliance jobs in Brazil
- Brasília, the capital since 1960
- São Paulo
- Porto Alegre
- Manaus
- All nonprofit career and salary guides
- GRC jobs in Rio de Janeiro, on GRC Careers
- Vagas de compliance no Rio de Janeiro (em português)
- Belo Horizonte
- Recife