Work: Job market news in Portugal

The Portuguese Order of Nurses (Ordem dos Enfermeiros or OE) has called for immediate government action to address the hiring of thousands of new professionals. The association claims that the Executive Directorate of the SNS is failing to approve necessary development plans, leaving many new nurses without placement in the public health system.

Space technology company Open Cosmos is opening a new office in Porto as part of a recruitment drive. The firm aims to double its workforce in Portugal to 100 employees, with 50 new vacancies currently available.

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.

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.

Commentators say recent mass layoffs at companies such as Block underline that artificial intelligence is already replacing roles across professions, with programmers and consultants among those most exposed. Estimates cited in coverage suggest almost a third of some job categories in Portugal face disruption, even as new roles and innovations may emerge. Workers in tech and professional services should reassess skills and retraining options as firms speed AI adoption.