Latest news and stories about labour shortage in work in Portugal for expats and residents.
Applications for the Integrar para a Construção training program close this Sunday, July 5th. The initiative offers 500 places for immigrants with valid residence permits to develop technical skills and language proficiency for the construction sector.
Firms facing historic employment levels and labour shortages are increasingly hiring or re‑hiring workers over 55, Dinheiro Vivo reports, with particular demand in food, manufacturing, hospitality, logistics and contact centres. Eurofirms says employers are adapting hours and roles to attract senior profiles. Older jobseekers and employers looking to fill roles should note rising openness to flexible schedules and senior hires.
Eurofirms is a Spanish-founded human-resources company operating in Portugal that provides temporary staffing, recruitment and outsourcing to employers. Agencies like it supply workers to sectors that often face shortages, such as food production, manufacturing, logistics and construction.
Outsourcing is when a company hires an external firm to provide services or staff—examples include cleaning, payroll, warehouse work or manufacturing lines. Firms use outsourcing to fill labour gaps, lower costs or scale quickly, which is why Portuguese companies are turning to it amid current shortages in the food, manufacturing and construction sectors (outsourcing in Portuguese is terceirização).
Six months after Storm Kristin, the Mission Structure reports 3.5 billion euros in mobilized funds, though coordinator Paulo Fernandes acknowledges significant labour shortages in construction and forestry as the primary obstacle to recovery.
Portuguese reporting indicates a sharp rise in monthly fees at some care homes — increases of roughly €500 — driven largely by a persistent labour shortage and higher operating costs. The hikes are prompting families to withdraw elderly relatives, intensifying pressure on informal care networks and raising equity and access concerns for vulnerable patients. Economically, the trend highlights how rising labour costs and constrained staffing can be passed directly to users in minimally regulated markets, with implications for social policy, funding models and workforce recruitment/retention. Separately, French coverage notes a demobilisation of farmers’ protests in Paris, underscoring a wider context of labour and sectoral tensions across services and primary production.
The grape harvest in the Douro began much earlier than usual. Winegrowers report an excellent harvest, but one that is increasingly hindered by a shortage of labour.
The president of the Order of Engineers, Fernando Almeida Santos, argues that it will not be feasible to execute the works announced by the Government without importing qualified technicians.
The lack of available workforce is showing signs of becoming a structural issue rather than a temporary, seasonal phenomenon.
Hotels on Pico Island, in the Azores, are facing labour shortages and access issues during the peak season.
Companies are competing for professionals, who are seeing their salaries increase. Some firms have been offering benefits such as company cars to retain employees, fearing they will be unable to fill vacancies.
Faced with the labour shortage affecting the restaurant sector, Sofia Lemos, owner of Sabores do Lima, states that Brazilian workers have been vital to keeping businesses running.
Marco Silva expects support from the fans and believes that the tie will be unlikely to be decided today. Also, the Minister of the Economy acknowledges the need for immigrants to address the labour shortage.
“Companies say they cannot find qualified candidates, but we find candidates with training, experience, and the willingness to work,” says António Marto, founder of the Employability Exchange.
Portugal is facing a lack of workforce, yet skilled Brazilian professionals are struggling to enter the market.
Three hours after Storm Kristin, there is a lack of manpower for the reconstruction work.
At 10 pm, Paulo Fernandes, the coordinator for the reconstruction of the country's Central Region, expressed concern regarding the lack of available workforce.
The head of the Order of Engineers has warned of the lack of labour required for major infrastructure projects and advocated for public policies to attract workers and talent to the construction sector. Speaking to Lusa, Fernando de Almeida Santos stated that while Portugal has the necessary business capacity, it needs to strengthen its engineering teams.
A construction firm founded by Brazilians is growing its operations in Portugal, yet is currently struggling with a lack of available workers.
Between 2020 and 2026, more than three thousand doctors decided not to pursue specialist training in the National Health Service (SNS) after completing their common year. Additionally, Iran launched a new wave of attacks on Tel Aviv.
The president of the Coordination and Development Commission of the Central Region (CCDRC) stated this Tuesday that the majority of the 18,000 applications for house reconstruction in the region have not yet been opened due to a lack of labour. 'There is a lack of capacity to process the applications, and of that number, 200 have been paid, so we are...'
High material prices and a lack of labour are threatening growth in the construction sector, according to a report by Crédito y Caución. The credit insurer warns that these two factors have a strong impact on profit margins and delivery deadlines. Regarding the issue of tariffs and...
The article discusses Portugal's construction industry leveraging a “green card” immigration pathway to address labor shortages. Despite global uncertainties, adventure travel remains vital for tourism, highlighting resilience in the sector. Additionally, the piece touches on broader economic issues, such as soaring oil prices and geopolitical tensions, which impact tourism and business environments in Portugal.
In the municipalities of Marinha Grande and Leiria alone, over a thousand companies have been affected by Storm Kristin. A large number are either idle or operating at partial capacity. In some cases, reconstruction will need to be done almost from scratch.
The Secretary of State highlighted the shortage of national labour to repair public infrastructure, factories, and housing.
Leiria, Coimbra and Santarém are the districts with the most damage.
Aside from the urgent need for building materials, Fernando Santo, former president of the Order of Engineers, warns that “a lot of labour will be needed for months.” The construction sector says it is willing to collaborate.
