Portugal’s unemployment rate held steady at a record-low 5.6% in January 2026. The adult unemployment rate remained at 4.7%, the lowest since April 2002, while youth unemployment declined 0.4 percentage points to 18.2%, the lowest since April 2023. The total number of unemployed edged up by 900 to 315,000, while total employment fell by 14,400 to 5.301 million. Despite this, the employment rate remained at an all-time high of 65.8%, and the labor force participation rate stayed near its historical peak at 69.7%. Meanwhile, the labor underutilization rate, which includes the unemployed, marginally attached workers, and part-time workers seeking full-time positions, edged down to 9.6% in January from 9.7% in December. source: Statistics Portugal

Unemployment Rate in Portugal remained unchanged at 5.60 percent in January. Unemployment Rate in Portugal averaged 9.09 percent from 1998 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 18.30 percent in January of 2013 and a record low of 5.00 percent in November of 2000. This page provides - Portugal Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Portugal Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Portugal remained unchanged at 5.60 percent in January. Unemployment Rate in Portugal is expected to be 5.60 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Portugal Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 6.30 percent in 2027 and 6.40 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-29 11:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 5.6% 5.7% 5.7%
2026-03-03 11:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 5.6% 5.6% 5.6%
2026-03-31 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 5.6%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 5273.10 5306.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Employment Rate 65.80 65.80 percent Jan 2026
Full Time Employment 4900.50 4914.50 Thousand Dec 2025
Job Vacancies 11753.00 5745.00 Jan 2026
Job Vacancy Rate 1.40 1.40 percent Sep 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 69.70 69.70 percent Jan 2026
Part Time Employment 439.00 417.60 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 333.50 327.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.60 5.60 percent Jan 2026
Wage Growth 7.90 9.30 percent Dec 2025
Wages 1314.00 1298.00 EUR/Month Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 156.30 165.71 points Dec 2025


Portugal Unemployment Rate
In Portugal, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5.60 5.60 18.30 5.00 1998 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Portugal Unemployment Rate Remains at Record Low Level
Portugal’s unemployment rate held steady at a record-low 5.6% in January 2026. The adult unemployment rate remained at 4.7%, the lowest since April 2002, while youth unemployment declined 0.4 percentage points to 18.2%, the lowest since April 2023. The total number of unemployed edged up by 900 to 315,000, while total employment fell by 14,400 to 5.301 million. Despite this, the employment rate remained at an all-time high of 65.8%, and the labor force participation rate stayed near its historical peak at 69.7%. Meanwhile, the labor underutilization rate, which includes the unemployed, marginally attached workers, and part-time workers seeking full-time positions, edged down to 9.6% in January from 9.7% in December.
2026-03-03
Portugal’s Unemployment Rate at Over Two-Decade Low
Portugal’s unemployment rate edged down to 5.6% in December 2025 from 5.7% in November, marking its lowest level since February 2002. The adult unemployment rate stood at 4.7%, the lowest since April 2002, while youth unemployment fell 0.5 percentage points to 18.4%. The total number of unemployed declined by 3.4 thousand to 314.8 thousand, while employment rose by 16.7 thousand, reaching a record high of 5.317 million. The employment rate climbed to an all-time high of 65.9%, and the labor force participation rate increased to 69.8%, near its historical peak. Meanwhile, the labor underutilization rate, which includes the unemployed, marginally attached workers, and part-time workers seeking full-time employment, slightly decreased to 9.7% in December from 9.8% in November.
2026-01-29
Portugal Jobless Rate Lowest since 2020
Portugal’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.7% in November 2025, the lowest since April 2020, from 5.8% in the previous month. The total number of unemployed fell by 9 thousand to 318.8 thousand, while employment decreased by 21.5 thousand to 5.285 million. The labor force participation rate rose to 69.7% from 69.6% and the employment rate increased to 65.8% from 65.6%. Meanwhile, the labour underutilisation rate was estimated at 9.8%, down from 10% in October. A year earlier, the jobless rate was higher at 6.6%.
2026-01-07