Number of unemployed in October rises to more than 303 thousand

The number of unemployed people registered in employment centers in Portugal stood at 303,356 individuals at the end of October, 4.9% more than in the same month of 2022 and 1.1% more than in September, according to published data this Monday by the Employment and Professional Training Institute (IEFP).

The more than 303,000 unemployed people represent 66.3% of a total of 457,753 job applications that same month, according to the State employment service.

“For the increase in registered unemployment, compared to the same month of 2022, in the absolute variation, those registered for less than 12 months contributed (+21,337). In the opposite direction, there is a decrease in those registered for 12 or more months in the employment services file (-7106)”, reads the IEFP note.

Throughout October, a total of 54,694 people registered as unemployed.

Registered unemployment increased in all regions, except the Azores (-14.2%) and Madeira (-26.6%). The biggest increase was observed in the Algarve (an increase of 8.9%).

Compared to the previous month, it was also in the Algarve that the biggest increase occurred (23.1%), but in this case there were also increases in the Azores and Madeira. On the contrary, the only exceptions were the North and Center of the country.

In mainland Portugal, the most representative professional groups of registered unemployed people were unskilled workers (26.5%); workers in personal services, security protection and salespeople (19.8%); administrative staff (12%) and specialists in intellectual and scientific activities (11.5%).

Regarding economic activity, among the 260,664 unemployed people registered as candidates for a new job, “72.5% had worked in activities in the service sector, with emphasis on real estate, administrative and support services activities (which represent 32, 6%); 20% came from the secondary sector, with particular emphasis on construction” (6.1%); 4.7% of the unemployed belonged to the agricultural sector”.

Regarding job offers, 10,740 offers were received in October, 12.7% more than in October 2022, but 15.6% less than in September. The economic activities with the greatest expression in job offers received throughout the month were real estate, administrative and support services activities, which represent 19.6% of the total.