Unemployment in Portugal rises to 5.5% in the third quarter. Among under-25s it is 19.9%
In July–September 2026 unemployment in Portugal stood at 5.5%, 0.2 percentage points higher than in the second quarter but 0.3 points lower than a year earlier. In all, 316,800 people were out of work, 16,000 more than in the previous quarter. The figures were published by INE, the national statistics institute (ECO).
The number of people in work stands at 5,391,000: 8,800 fewer than in the previous quarter and 58,900 (1.1%) more than a year earlier. Jobs are still being created, but more slowly than before (Jornal de Negócios). In the third quarter 20.3% of those in work, almost 1.1 million people, worked from home.
Young people are hardest hit: among 16- to 24-year-olds unemployment is 19.9%, 1.6 points higher than a quarter earlier and 1.1 points higher than a year earlier. More than a third of the unemployed (35.9%) have been looking for work for a year or longer.
If you have lost your job, apply for unemployment benefit through IEFP, the state employment service, within 90 days of your contract ending: any days you are late will be deducted from the period you receive benefit for.
Who is entitled to what, and how much, is explained in our guide Segurança Social benefits: unemployment, sickness, children.
