Note: This article is based on coverage of the study published by *Valor Econômico*, one of Brazil’s leading business newspapers. Noël Zemborain, president of Junior Achievement Americas, served as the main spokesperson.
On June 17, the Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico published an article in its “Carreira” section on the results of our study ,“Women in Technology: Findings from Junior Achievement’s Employability Programs in Latin America.” The article was titled “IT Training Helps Increase Women’s Salaries by 33%” and highlighted the study’s key finding: young women who complete our program earn 33% more than they did before receiving training.
From the Classroom to Formal Employment
Along with the increase in income, we saw a significant improvement in job quality: among the participants analyzed, the formal employment rate rose by 19 percentage points, from 12% to 31%. And 62% of our graduates who found jobs are now working in the information technology sector.
“Not only did they go on to earn more—they also secured jobs that offered stability, social protection, and opportunities for growth,” Zemborain noted in the article. “This is proof that it is possible to transform career and economic trajectories in a relatively short period of time.”
Skills That Go Beyond the Technical
The study also documents changes in the participants’ self-efficacy and confidence, which are key enablers of employability. Our graduates report higher levels of confidence, improved communication skills, and a more proactive attitude toward job searching.
This finding becomes particularly significant when contrasted with market demand: of the more than 3,600 tech job openings we analyzed, 60% require social-emotional skills. “Developing these attributes is essential for more women to enter and advance in the sector,” Zemborain noted.
Brazil: 520 professionals trained and a new round in 2027
Brazil is not included in the sample analyzed, but the Valor article highlighted what the collected evidence suggests for that market. Mulher Digital began to be implemented in Brazil in 2025 and reached 520 professionals from 25 states, with the largest number of participants coming from São Paulo (14%), Rio de Janeiro (8%), Minas Gerais (6%), Pernambuco (5%), and Bahia (5%). In 2026, the program began training a new cohort, and a new round has been confirmed for 2027.
“The challenges young women face in accessing the technology market are similar across much of Latin America, and for that reason, the study’s findings offer a promising outlook on the changes we expect to see among Brazilian women in the coming years,” said Zemborain.
Read the full article in Valor Econômico: “IT Training Helps Increase Women’s Salaries by 33%,” June 17, 2026, Career section. [Full Article]
She's Digital
She's Digital a regional technical training and employability program launched by Junior Achievement Americas and co-designed with IDB Lab. Aimed at young women ages 18 to 29, it combines technical training in cybersecurity, web development, and cloud computing; industry-recognized international certifications; and a model for supporting participants toward employment. Since its launch, it has reached more than 9,700 women in Latin America, with more than 1,700 having entered the workforce.
For more information: jamujerdigital.org
Junior Achievement Americas
As one of the world’s largest NGOs serving youth, Junior Achievement Americas prepares young people for employment and entrepreneurship through hands-on learning experiences in financial literacy, job readiness, and entrepreneurship. With a presence in 26 member countries across the region, it delivered more than 3.2 million learning experiences in the last fiscal year, with the support of more than 22,700 volunteers and 1,700 local and regional partners. JA Worldwide was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for the fourth consecutive year.
For more information: jaamericas.org