Unemployment ends up in 2019 in Portugal: the rate is 6.9% The unemployment rate in Portugal has known good figures for a few years. However, the year 2019 ends with an increase to 6.9%, a figure revealed by the INE (the National Institute of Statistics) from the monthly unemployment rate excluding seasonal variation. You have to go back to August 2018 to find a higher, higher unemployment rate. Should this be seen as a break or an aggravation of the employment situation in Portugal? Lisbob, the expats assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the new Portuguese unemployment figures.
Article translated from eco.sapo.pt
Unemployment ends up in 2019 in Portugal with a rate of 6.9%
The Portuguese unemployment rate stood at 6.9% after reaching 6.7% in November, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) revealed on Wednesday. You have to go back to August 2018 to find a higher unemployment rate.
About a month ago, the INE revealed that the temporary unemployment rate for November had reached 6.7%, which translated into an increase of two tenths compared to the previous month, placing the rate at a level equal to that recorded a year ago.
The provisional value for November was confirmed on Wednesday by the INE, which also advanced the provisional figures for December. This shows an upward trend compared to the previous month (two tenths more) and compared to the same period (three tenths more) in 2018.
“The unemployed population - whose provisional estimate was 357,700 people - increased by 2.5%, or 8,800 more unemployed) compared to the previous month (November 2019), by 4.7% (16,100) compared in the previous quarter (September 2019) and 4.3% (14,800) compared to the same month of 2018 ”, explains the INE.
Unemployment rate is 0.3 % higher than same month of 2018
In terms of the labor force, there has been a decline. "In December 2019, the provisional estimate of the active population, which corresponded to 4.83 million people, recorded a decrease of 0.3% (16,100) compared to the previous month, of 0,6% (29,000) compared three months earlier (September 2019) and 0.1% (3,400) compared to the same month of 2018, ”adds the Portuguese statistical institute.
With the unemployed population increasing and the employed population decreasing, the unemployment rate worsened in the same proportions as the previous month.
The unemployment rate revealed this Wednesday by the INE is seasonally adjusted. On February 5, the INE will publish the official unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) for the fourth quarter of 2019 and the whole year.
In the state budget for 2020 (OE2020), the Portuguese government included an expected unemployment rate of 6.4% in 2019, anticipating a reduction to 6.1% this year 2020.
