Latin American ecommerce giant to grow workforce by 33% in 2025

MercadoLibre, an ecommerce and fintech company based in Uruguay, will expand its workforce by 33% in 2025.

It plans to hire 28,000 employees across Latin America, increasing its total headcount to 112,000 by year-end, according to chief people officer Sebastian Fernandez.

Most new positions will be in logistics, especially in Brazil and Mexico, along with roles in technology and operations.

The expansion supports its record US$13.2 billion investment plan to boost logistics and tech.

The company is also implementing AI tools in customer support and warehouse operations. It keeps a hybrid work model for corporate staff and plans new offices in Brazil.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ MercadoLibre’s growth strategy bucks global tech industry trends

MercadoLibre’s plan to add 28,000 workers in 2025 stands in stark contrast to the broader tech industry, where workforce reductions have become common.

While Amazon’s total workforce has declined about 3% since 2021, MercadoLibre’s headcount has surged 180% during the same period, demonstrating dramatically different approaches to human capital1.

This isn’t MercadoLibre’s first major expansion. In 2023, the company similarly planned to hire 13,000 new employees, expanding its workforce by a third that year too1.

The company’s steady workforce expansion (from 40,000 in 2021 to a projected 112,000 by the end of 2025) coincides with its record revenue and profit growth at a consistent clip of 30% annually for over two decades.

MercadoLibre’s approach challenges the prevalent tech industry strategy of cutting headcount while implementing AI tools, showing that human capital expansion and technology advancement can coexist effectively in their business model.

2️⃣ Culture-centered growth strategy drives MercadoLibre’s expansion

MercadoLibre has built its rapid growth on a foundation of distinctive corporate culture, earning recognition as a Best Company to Work For in every country where it operates.

In 2019, the company ranked #7 on the World’s Best Workplaces list, demonstrating its commitment to creating an environment that attracts and retains talent across Latin America2.