Latest news and stories about job market in finance in Portugal for expats and residents.
Telecommunications company Meo has been granted the status of a company in restructuring by the government, a move that facilitates the termination of employment contracts. The company plans to reach agreements for the departure of 1,200 workers by the end of the year, allowing for mutual agreements that include unemployment benefits beyond standard legal quotas.
Data from the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estatística or INE) shows that nearly 270,000 taxpayers in Portugal held two or more jobs in 2025, the highest figure on record. Additionally, statistics indicate that Portugal has the fifth-highest average weekly working hours in the European Union, with 19.5% of the workforce regularly working on weekends.
INE (Instituto Nacional de Estatística) is Portugal's official statistics office, responsible for collecting, processing, and publishing data on the economy, population, housing, employment, inflation, and social conditions.
Key INE publications include the Consumer Price Index (CPI), quarterly GDP figures, housing price indices, census data, and labor market statistics. These figures are widely used by policymakers, journalists, lenders, and international organizations to assess Portugal's economic and social trends.
INE data is publicly available at ine.pt, where users can access databases, press releases, and interactive tools covering everything from property prices to demographic shifts.
Portugal celebrates Labour Day against a backdrop of near-structural unemployment, yet low wages and limited progression opportunities remain critical challenges for the workforce. What kind of labour market do we need to build to value careers and retain the most qualified workers in Portugal?
The number of unemployed people registered with the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional or IEFP) fell by 10.2% in March compared to the same month last year. Data shows 295,756 individuals were registered at the end of March, marking a 3.1% decrease from February. The most significant reductions occurred in the North, Azores, and Madeira regions.
The Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) runs employment centres, job-placement services and vocational training in Portugal and publishes official unemployment data. IEFP reported a 10.8% drop in registered unemployed in December year‑on‑year and near‑stable figures from November, so job-seeking residents (including expats) should register with IEFP to access unemployment benefits, training and hiring programmes.
Portuguese employers are exhibiting increased caution regarding recruitment plans due to international economic uncertainty, according to a recent ManpowerGroup analysis.
A recent study on Portugal's financial sector reveals significant trends in employment and salaries, highlighting a drastic reduction in bank branches and the high qualifications of workers. Despite higher average salaries compared to the national average, the study points out disparities with Spain and raises concerns about the future of employment if proposed reforms are enacted.
DGERT data show notified collective redundancies rose by about 11% in 2025 to 552 — the highest annual total since 2020 (698). The January–December 2025 figure and monthly patterns indicate a rising trend in collective layoffs, with numbers approaching levels seen during the Covid‑19 pandemic, signalling renewed pressure on the labour market and potential legal and social implications for affected sectors.
A ManpowerGroup ranking obtained by ECO shows chief financial officer (CFO) is currently the highest-paid role in Portugal, with total gross pay reaching up to €150,000 per year. The list highlights that top compensation is concentrated among senior executives and specialised professional roles across sectors, reflecting market demand and the cost-of-living and pay dynamics in Portugal.
The job vacancy rate fell to 2.3% in the eurozone and 2.1% in the European Union (EU) in the first quarter, compared to the same period in 2025, Eurostat announced today.
The company requested restructuring status last year and saw the application approved by the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security in January.
This is part of the telecommunications operator's internal transformation programme.
Companies are using Artificial Intelligence as a justification for layoffs. The trend is for the situation to worsen as technology improves. Column by Regina Nogueira
Many professionals are rethinking the role of work in their lives. Not everyone takes the leap, but the ability to 'change one's life' can bring gains for both the employee and the employer.
In an increasingly competitive job market, the discussion on talent retention remains stuck in a misconception: it is assumed that the problem lies in incentives when, in reality, it lies in the management model. Companies multiply benefits, adjust salaries, and make policies more flexible, but they continue to manage people with the same logic they use to manage...
Today the Commission will publish its European Semester Spring Package, a checkup on EU countries’ economies. But the news isn’t too good. The report warns that over a million jobs across Europe could be lost in the coming years as a result of high energy costs, competition from abroad and the green transition. On the ...
The EU will for the first time assess whether countries are investing enough in the people needed to sustain Europe's economic and industrial ambitions.
Portugal ranks third among European Union nations for the highest challenges in hiring skilled workers.
The unemployment rate stood at 5.7% in April, down from 5.8% in March and 0.5 percentage points lower than in the same month last year, according to provisional data released today by the INE.
Availability to change jobs has fallen by 15 percentage points since 2023, a study indicates
The number of unemployment benefit recipients fell by 6.1% in April compared to the same period last year, totalling 184,148, the lowest figure since October 2025, according to data from the GEP. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 11,916 recipients. Compared to March, there was a 5.3% decline. The average monthly unemployment benefit in April was 752.05 euros, an 8.4% year-on-year increase. Women continue to account for the majority of recipients, totalling 105,752 compared to 78,396 men.
Compared to the same period last year, there was a decrease of 11,916 recipients, representing a 6.1% drop.
The number of unemployed people registered at the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) centres fell again in April, according to data released this Thursday. In total, there were 283,000 registered at the end of the fourth month of 2026, 30,000 fewer than a year ago and 12,000 fewer than...
Inter Ikea Group, the holding company that controls Ikea and has 27,700 employees, will eliminate 850 jobs to gain “simplicity and speed” and reduce costs, the company announced in a statement this Monday. “Despite many positive achievements, the Inter Ikea Group has become too complex and fragmented in a retail environment...”
Companies reported 145 collective redundancies in the first three months of the year, according to data released by the Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT). This corresponds to a year-on-year decrease of approximately 10%, according to ECO's calculations. Among these processes, 63 concern small businesses and 48...
The proportion of older professionals in new hires is limited. The profile of the vacancies helps to explain this. Companies deny discrimination.
An analysis of whether pursuing higher education remains a valuable investment in the current job market.
Of the total number of unemployed people in the last quarter of 2025, 61.1% (199,300) remained so until March, 22.5% (73,400) transitioned into employment, and 16.4% (53,600) moved into inactivity, according to the INE.
The company Coindu, in Vila Nova de Famalicão, will proceed with a lay-off that may affect nearly 500 workers. The lay-off will last for six months, between May and November.
