Portugal’s minimum wage is €920 a month in 2026 – and on top of 12 monthly salaries you get a holiday allowance and a Christmas allowance. 79.6% of people aged 20–64 have a job, above the EU average. Find out where the shortages are, where to look for a job, how to apply (in Portuguese or, if needed, in English) and what to do in your first weeks.
Portugal is a country of 11.4 million people with an employment rate above the EU average: 79.6% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%).
Unemployment has been fairly stable – 6.2% in 2022, 6.5% in 2023 and 2024 and 6.0% in 2025, exactly the EU average. Young people find it harder: youth unemployment is 19.5% among people aged 15–24, compared with 15.2% in the EU.
As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen you do not need a work permit – you can move, look for a job and work on the same terms as Portuguese citizens. Portuguese helps a lot, but if you do not speak it, you can send your CV in English.
Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.
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