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. source: Statistics Portugal

Unemployment Rate in Portugal decreased to 5.60 percent in December from 5.70 percent in November of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Portugal averaged 9.10 percent from 1998 until 2025, 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 February of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Portugal decreased to 5.60 percent in December from 5.70 percent in November of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Portugal is expected to be 5.90 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 6.40 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-07 11:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Nov 5.7% 5.8% 5.9%
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%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 5305.10 5306.90 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Rate 65.90 65.70 percent Dec 2025
Full Time Employment 4914.50 4822.00 Thousand Sep 2025
Job Vacancies 5745.00 8746.00 Dec 2025
Job Vacancy Rate 1.40 1.40 percent Sep 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 69.80 69.60 percent Dec 2025
Part Time Employment 417.60 426.30 Thousand Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 327.90 326.30 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 5.60 5.70 percent Dec 2025
Wage Growth 8.40 9.30 percent Nov 2025
Wages 1250.00 1264.00 EUR/Month Sep 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 164.88 119.52 points Nov 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 5.70 18.30 5.00 1998 - 2025 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
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
Portugal Jobless Rate Falls to 5.9% in October
Portugal’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.9% in October 2025 from 6% in the previous month. The labor force participation rate fell to 69.6% from 69.9% and the employment rate fell to 65.5% from 65.7%. The total number of unemployed fell by 7.3 thousand to 329.1 thousand, while employment decreased by 12.6 thousand to 5.279 million. Meanwhile, the labour underutilisation rate was estimated at 10.1%, down from 10.2% in September. A year earlier, the jobless rate was higher at 6.6%.
2025-11-28