Physical Therapist Education and the Labor Market in Brazil: Advances and Challenges

Abstract

Background: In Brazil, the number of physical therapy education programs and, consequently, of professionals has been growing for the past 20 years. Objectives: The objective of the study was to describe the evolution and distribution of physical therapist education programs in Brazil and to analyze the impact of workforce growth on the labor market for these professionals. Design: This was a descriptive, exploratory, quantitative study. Methods: Secondary data collected from official sources in Brazil were used. Results: The first physical therapist education program was created in 1958, and, after significant growth, 536 programs were active in 2014. The historical series (1996-2014) shows a corresponding increase in the number of admissions by higher educational institutions. This expansion resulted in an increase in the number of professionals, with an impact on the labor market. The workforce in physical therapy is predominantly female, and women increased their participation in this labor market from 59% in 1996 to 81% in 2014. An increase in nominal monthly salaries was observed over the years from US $797.00 in 1996 to US $1056.00 in 2014. Nevertheless, the real average salaries, that is, salaries adjusted to inflation, have followed a trend of devaluation. Limitations: Results of this study must be interpreted in terms of overall trends rather than as precise absolute numbers due to the inherent nature of the varied secondary data sources. Conclusions: These data can support further discussion on training and the labor market in the field of physical therapy.