Living &
Working
in Portugal
Living & Working in Portugal
 The Country
 Recognition Diplomas
and Qualifications
 The Public
Employment Service
 Language
 The Labour Market
 Working Conditions
 Social Security
 Taxation
 Accommodation
 Healthcare
 Education
 Cost of Living
 Looking for a Job
Portugal
The Country
The Country
Area: 92,412 km2
Territorial organisation: 18 districts in the
Mainland, 2 Autonomous regions (Azores
and Madeira archipelagos)
Capital: Lisboa (Lisbon)
Population: 10,563 millions (2005)
Active Population: 5,544 millions (2005)
Currency: Euro
GDP: 135.035 million Eur (2004)
Per capita GDP: 72,4% EU25 avg (2004)
Minimum Wage: 385,90 Eur/month (2006)
Inflation Rate: 2.1% (2005)
The Country
Political System

Republic ruled by a Constitution

Parliamentary Democracy

Organs with supreme authority: the President of the Republic, the
Assembly of the Republic, the Government and the Law Courts

President of the Republic: Mr. Cavaco Silva

Prime-Minister: Mr. José Sócrates (Socialist Party)

Portuguese Parliament (‘Assembly of the Republic’):

230 deputies, elected for a 4 year term

6 political parties represented
(elected for a 5 year term)
EURES Advisers in Portugal
2 in national Technical Coordination
5 in IEFP Regional Offices
2 in Autonomous Regions (Azores and Madeira)
5 in Local Units (in Job Centres)
1 allocated to EURES-C (in ACISAT)
15 EURES Advisers (2nd semester 2006)
Portugal
The Labour Market
The Labour Market
Participation and employment rates (%)
Labour Force
Participation Rate *
Employment Rate
*
EU 25
69,6%
63,3%
EuroZone
69,1%
63,0%
Source:
EUROSTAT,
Labour Force
Survey, 2004
Portugal
73,0%
67,8%
* 15-64 years
Total employment increased 5,3% since 1998
(source: INE)
The Labour Market
Employment structure (%)
Economic Area (NACE)
Agriculture, Hunting and Fishery
Industry
Construction
Services
EU 25
Portugal
5,0%
12,1%
19,9%
20,5%
7,8%
10,7%
66,7%
56,8%
Source: EUROSTAT, Labour Force Survey 2005
The Labour Market
Business structure (%)
Number of companies = 288.678 (in 2002)
less 10 workers
83,5%
10 - 49 workers
14,2%
50 - 249 workers
2%
250 and more
workers
0,3%
SOURCE : MTSS/ DEEP
The Labour Market
Foreign Citizens by nationality
13,5%
4,6% 0,3%
Europe
31,9%
3,7%
276,5 thousands
in 2005
Africa
North America
Central/ South America
Asia
45,9%
Others
The Labour Market
Unemployment rate *
Total
Male
Female
< 25
years
25 +
years
EU 25
8,5%
7,6%
9,7%
18,4%
7,2%
EuroZone
8,4%
7,2%
9,9%
17,6%
7,1%
Portugal
7,5%
6,6%
8,5%
16,1%
6,5%
* 15-74 years
Source: EUROSTAT, Euro-Indicators December 2005
The Labour Market
Registered unemployment in IEFP
436 901
- 5,1% compared to July 2005
- 1,3% compared to June 2006
registered unemployed
57,9% are women
12,5% less than 25 years old
19,7% with 55 and more years old
July 2006
6,8% are looking for 1st job
43,1% Long Term Unemployed
The Labour Market
Registered unemployment
by education level
July 2006
with no education level
5,7%
with lower secondary
(9th grade) or less
68,5%
with upper secondary
15,5%
graduates
10,2%
The Labour Market
Foreign citizens registered as unemployed
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
1997
Africa
1998
1999
EU/EEA Countries
2000
2001
Brasil
2002
2003
2004
Eastern Europe Countries
2005
TOTAL
Source: IEFP, July 2006
The Labour Market
Meeting of the Lisbon Strategy Goals
Employment
Rate
Portugal
EU
Target
2005
2005
Target
2008
2005
Target
2010
Global
> 67%
67,5%
69%
64,1%
70%
Women
> 60%
61,7%
63%
56,5%
60%
> 50%
50,3% *
> 50%
41% *
50%
Older workers
(55+ years)
* 2004 data
Source: EUROSTAT, Labour Force Survey 2005
The Labour Market
Labour Market Shortages

Health Sector (mostly medical doctors in some expert specialties)

Hotels and Restaurants (seasonal needs)

Wholesale and Retail Trade (hypermarkets and shopping malls)

Information and Communication Technologies

Construction (qualified professionals)

Family and Community Services (child and elderly care)

Basic Industries (in some regions)
The Labour Market
Labour Market Surpluses
 Teachers
 Clerks
 Sales and Services Elementary Occupations
 Non-Qualified Workers in Mining, Construction,
Manufacturing and Transports
 Personal and Protective Services Workers
The Labour Market
Average Monthly Earnings
(April 2005)
Activity Areas
Eur 945,39
 Manufacturing
831,73
Professional Level
 Construction
792,14
 Managers/Directors 2.847,67
 Sales & Repair Services
897,42
 Hotels & Restaurants
628,61
 Employees
985,63
 Labourers
709,33
 Apprentices
511,58
Gender
 Male
 Female
 Transpts & Communications
1.450,43
 Financial Activities
1.902,11
 Health Care & Social Work
777,49
 Community & Family Services 1.126,55
1.051,78
 Education
1.062,66
791,81
Source: DGEEP