Have you ever wondered what is the easiest job to get in Portugal? The easiest job depends on your qualifications, background, and language skills.
As expected, moving to another country complicates your job search and career path. But then, when you, alongside thousands of expats, get jobs in other countries, you realize there’s an opportunity for you.
As of Q3 2023, Portugal’s unemployment rate sits at 6.1%, steadily declining over the past two years. This offers a promising backdrop for job seekers.
However, youth unemployment remains a concern at over 20%, indicating a stronger focus might be needed on entry-level opportunities.
Beyond that, the Portuguese government also recently launched the “Working in Portugal” program to encourage more immigrants to seek more employment opportunities there. This is fascinating news, meaning more attractive job prospects. Nevertheless, the Portuguese job market has unique opportunities for locals and foreigners. Let’s talk about what you can do to navigate the market and the most accessible jobs possible.
How to get the easiest job in Portugal?
First off, as a foreigner, penetrating the market in Portugal requires being strategic. The job market is competitive, and your skill set will open or close many doors for you. Even so, you must always consider that when employers advertise positions, they must choose Portuguese nationals first for any work, then people from other EU nations before considering a foreigner. Ideally, we can categorize the jobs in Portugal that are available for foreigners by language and skills. Let’s look at the different categories.
Jobs not requiring Portuguese – what is the easiest job to get in Portugal?
These job categories may not require you to learn even the primary Portuguese language. But then, many of them require some degree of knowing multiple languages. You may also need to distinguish between the lowly-paid jobs that are more plentiful and the high-paid positions. Typically, the Portuguese minimum wage is low. It is currently €783.55 per month, which is lower than other European countries. However, the cost of living is also generally lower, offering a balanced equation.Hence, many lowly-paid jobs pay less than in any other European country. The number of these jobs available are primarily at night and would require working long hours. These jobs include:
Customer service
Portugal’s growing economy and international businesses demand English-speaking customer service agents. You will find these jobs in call centers, tech support, and tourism. To stand out, you need to have strong communication and problem-solving skills. Depending on the actual customer service role, you may also need to provide specific training and certification. For instance, special training like conflict resolution makes you stand out. If you also speak other European languages such as Nordic, Dutch, or German, it can help you secure that job.
Technical support
Technical support is a unique aspect of customer service. These jobs also require special technical knowledge of troubleshooting computers, among other things. As expected, these jobs pay more than customer service roles. But also expect wages to be lower than in other European countries.
Sales
Similar to customer service, international companies in Portugal usually have sales roles for foreigners. Your language skills will stand out, especially if you know another European language. You also need soft skills; strong communication, persuasion, and negotiation skills are crucial. Beyond that, some companies may consider your application if you can demonstrate industry knowledge working in similar companies with similar products, services, and regulations. You may also require specific sales training. But many such companies can also train you as well.
Hospitality
Hospitality always has a ton of job opportunities for English-speaking foreigners. You don’t need a degree for these positions. You can find positions as waitstaff, bartenders, and hotel receptionists. These particular roles are always in demand in tourist hotspots like Lisbon and Algarve. You will snag a job in this role if you also have prior experience and a friendly personality.
Tourism
As with hospitality, Portugal also relies heavily on tourism. Tourism generates nearly 20% of Portugal’s GDP, making hospitality, customer service, and travel-related roles consistently in demand. Hence, you will find tourism positions across Portugal, especially the Algarve, Porto, and Lisbon. Nevertheless, knowing English and some Portuguese is usually a requirement for such jobs.
English teaching
Many language schools and private centers seek native English speakers. To get access to such jobs, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and certifications such as TEFL. Besides, most teaching contracts don’t run permanently but may ideally last a year.
Online work
Online positions you can access via the internet may not require that you know any Portuguese. Some such jobs include freelance writing, translation, content creation, and virtual assistant roles.
Senior care
Depending on your skill set, you can become a carer. This is because more people are choosing to move to Portugal to retire. So, there’s been an increase in demand for nurses and people trained specially to work with geriatric patients. Many such clients come from English-speaking countries. Hence, if you are a foreigner who only speaks English, you may find a great opportunity here. Many such employments you’ll find in the bigger towns and cities. That said, these employments will be in hospitals and nursing homes.
Renewable energy jobs
Another fascinating sector that can be easy to get into without knowing the Portuguese language is renewable energy. This industry often requires experts in development, installation, and maintenance.
The renewable energy sector, with ambitious government targets, is creating exciting opportunities for engineers, technicians, and environmental specialists.
So here arekYou’ll also find most of the job vacancies for these positions in the Center region of Portugal. That said, such positions may also require some training and certification. Fortunately, renewable energy companies are often looking to provide training after employment.
Jobs where basic Portuguese helps
Now you’ve asked what is the easiest job to get in Portugal. We’ve answered that your skillset influences what’s available to you. Beyond that, knowing some Portuguese can also open up more opportunities for you. Here are positions where basic Portuguese may be necessary to keep employment going.
Warehouse and logistics
Warehouses and distribution centers hire for simple packing, sorting, and assembly tasks. English might be sufficient, but basic Portuguese could be helpful.
Agriculture and seasonal work
Fruit picking, vineyards, and farm work are available, especially in rural areas. English may be enough, but basic Portuguese could be an advantage. You may also find these jobs in rural areas such as Alentejo and Tras-os-Montes.
Construction and manual labor
Construction sites and manual labor jobs require physical fitness but minimal qualifications. Hence, you might find work as a welder, plumber, electrician, and more. Basic Portuguese communication would be helpful.
Other trading positions
There are equally many unskilled positions that may be easier to get jobs a. These positions get across textiles, metallurgy, and footwear. You’ll find them in Braga, S. Maira da Feira, Fundao, and many more.
Real estate agents
Portugal’s real estate market also presents a unique opportunity for foreigners. This is because more people (from English-speaking countries) are looking to buy homes and businesses in the country. Hence, you can become an English-speaking real estate agent in Portugal, where great positions are available.
There are also agents needed across the country, including smaller towns. So you can move anywhere you like. To legally operate in Portugal, every estate agent requires training and certification from Instituto da Construcao e do Imobiliario.
Healthcare
Healthcare is one of those sectors with a mixed environment. Portugal has one of the oldest populations in Europe. Hence, there are more people seeking healthcare than there are available doctors. Plus, doctors and other health staff in Portugal are usually lowly paid. Therefore, if you are okay with the salary, you will find plenty of opportunities there.
Remote positions
So, what is the easiest job to get in Portugal? Remote work isn’ttIt’s equally possible to work remotely for either international companies based in Portugal or other overseas companies while in Portugal. This, of course, depends on your visa as well.
For instance, a person with a D7 visa can work for an overseas company because their visa depends on their receiving passive income equal to or greater than the minimum wage. In contrast, a person on a work visa must have arrived in Portugal using a Portuguese employment work visa.
Furthermore, using the Portuguese/European Blue card for highly skilled immigrants is also possible. Again, someone who arrived via the Job-seeker visa must swap to a more appropriate work visa, which also requires employment. To fully understand how this applies to your unique situation, speak to your immigration lawyer.
Even so, many remote positions exist in the IT field and often command better pay than traditional employment positions. This is because they are mainly provided by international companies and require highly skilled individuals to fill those positions.Portugal’s tech scene is also booming, with Lisbon emerging as a hub for startups and international tech giants. It’s no wonder many of them are also some of the best-paid jobs in Portugal. It’s one reason why when people ask what is the easiest job to get in Portugal, some might answer IT jobs. Let’s talk about these jobs:
- Software engineer
- Web developers
- Big Data Specialist
- Digital Marketer
- Campaign Analyst
- Online marketing expert
- Digital Marketing Specialist
- Media optimization specialist
- Machine Learning Specialist
- IT & Business Consultant
- IT team lead
- Cybersecurity specialist
- Copywriter etc.
Nevertheless, depending on the jobs you are targeting, you may or may not require a degree. That said, sensitive IT jobs may require you to have degrees in computer science. You’ll also need to demonstrate proficiency via industry certifications. Depending on your field, certifications from big names like Amazon web services, Cisco, Microsoft, and many more.
What about director or management jobs in Portugal?
Suppose your skillsets follow the more traditional route. For instance, you are looking towards getting employed in positions like General director, E-commerce manager, or Chief Information Officer.
These jobs pay exceptional salaries in Portugal. But they also demand beyond their skillsets and roles. Since these positions would mean managing several people, speaking fluent Portuguese is important. Another added advantage is knowing more than two languages, of which English and one other European language (apart from Portuguese) are necessary. This can help you stand out for positions in sales administration, human resources, accounting, and management control.
Remember that these don’t guarantee getting jobs in the Portuguese job market. But they will help you stand out better from the crowd. Again, for such positions, building your social media accounts and reaching out to recruiters is much better. Many companies fill such sensitive positions via recruitment agencies and headhunters.
Other tips to navigate the Portuguese job market
No matter what job you’re looking for in Portugal, there’s always a competitive market waiting. Fortunately, you can even level the playing field by bringing your A-game through strategically looking for jobs, applying for them, and standing out from the crowd. Here are my top tips about finding the best employment in Portugal.
Look for jobs in the right region.
Your salary in Portugal will be lower than many other European countries. But then it’s possible to have a comfortable life still, even if you cannot save money. Nevertheless, the region in which you search for jobs may also make or break provisions for chances to advertise. For instance, I would recommend Braga, Aveiro, or Porto. Porto has more diversity and jobs. But then Aveiro and Braga have lower costs of living. Still, big companies like Continental and Bosche operate in Aveiro and Braga. Your qualifications may also influence your selection of such jobs.
Network with a clear roadmap
Portugal is a small country. So networking gives you a serious advantage fast. It’s often easy to meet people who can help you find jobs. Leverage the number of job fairs, conferences, meetups, and other events to meet people. Remember to exchange business cards and be strategic about how you ask.
Be prepared to begin at the bottom.
Lowering expectations helps you navigate the Portuguese job market as quickly as possible. Many foreigners may have to take entry-level positions or even temporary and seasonal jobs. Taking such assignments is to explore the possibilities of working in Portugal firsthand. Also, keep in mind that you may find more low-paying job positions requiring you to work weekends and night shifts.
Get your resume and cover letter.
Modify your resume and cover letter to the Portuguese standards. This will further help you access the right jobs. You may also need to translate your resume and cover letter into Portuguese.
The bottom line
Now, what is the easiest job to get in Portugal? The short answer is there’s no outright easy job. Ultimately, your unique skills and circumstances will determine the most accessible position for you. And even whether you see the easiest or wish to climb the career ladder quickly in Portugal, strategic maneuvering and understanding your options from day 1 are essential.
This shows you that your skill set will play a pivotal role. But then, you should always consider how much getting fluent in Portuguese can alter your job opportunities. Again, regional variations exist.
So, every part and region in Portugal will offer a variety of positions and their accompanying requirements.With its vibrant economy, diverse opportunities, and welcoming culture, Portugal offers a promising job market for those willing to explore and adapt. You can find your niche and thrive in the vibrant Portuguese job market with dedication and persistence.
