Is It Difficult to Find a Job in Portugal?

Are you a job seeker? Or the one aspiring to spend a quality life in your dreamland? Whatever the reason is, your enthusiasm has brought you to the right platform for getting valuable information regarding the job application process in Portugal. 

You must have a lot of confusion in your mind about the job opportunities and the probability of getting them. Don’t worry about that. As we are here, we’ll explore a variety of career opportunities available in Portugal and the way to achieve them. Just like every country, there is much competition for job hunting in Portugal. To be one of those lucky persons who succeed in securing profitable employment, you need to adopt a strategic approach and understand the latest trends in the job market of this country. 

Current Job Trends

So, let us discover the current status of employment trends in the Portugal market. You will be glad to know that a significant rise is expected in employment rates in the upcoming year of 2024. There was a markable growth in the sectors of technology, tourism, healthcare, and renewable energy in 2023. It has paved a path to the creation of further employment opportunities. If you have skills in any of these fields, you have a great chance of winning a seat. 

How to Get a Job in Portugal as a Foreigner?

Is it difficult to find a job in Portugal? You must have considered this question while planning to shift to Portugal. Here, we are going to solve the mystery by finding out the procedure of job hunting and getting recruited. One thing you should keep in mind is that you should work in Portuguese companies. You should be able to speak Portuguese.  Hence, you should learn Portuguese to get a job at a local company. It will also enhance your living experience in Portugal.

However, you can also get yourself a job in an international company where you can communicate in English or the language you are fluent in. Getting a job in international companies will earn you more than enough money. Here are Portugal job websites you can access to get jobs in international companies:

• Expatica
• Glassdoor
• Jobs in Lisbon
• Europe Language Jobs
• LinkedIn

Needless to say, before you apply for the job, you must look into the eligibility criteria first. Furthermore, there are some firms in Portugal where you can apply for and get a visa sponsorship as well. You should also know that there are some international and sometimes local companies that will offer you accommodation as your job package. Mostly, such jobs are related to communicating with customers and stakeholders.

Furthermore, with the increasing popularity of online jobs, Portuguese companies may deploy a hybrid work-from-home model based on work needs. English speakers can especially get online jobs in Portugal like a piece of cake.

Eligibility Criteria to Work in Portugal

Still stuck on the question, Is it difficult to find a job in Portugal? Well, before you start searching for job opportunities in Portugal related to your industry, let us look at eligibility criteria. You need to fulfill certain criteria to be able to do a job in Portugal. Without that, you might not be allowed to do the job.

However, because Portugal is one of the members of the European Union if you are an EU citizen, you won’t need a work permit to get yourself a job. You will only need to register your address with the city hall and provide your Portuguese tax number to get a job, being an EU citizen.

On the other hand, if you are not a citizen of one of the EU countries, you will have to apply for a visa before you can apply for a job in Portugal. To get yourself a visa, you will have to provide your job contract or the promise of your job contract. Furthermore, after you have landed in the country, you will be needed to apply for a residence permit.

Is It Difficult to Find a Job in Portugal?

To answer your question, is it difficult to find a job in Portugal? Well, to some extent, Yes! You may find it hard to get a job in Portugal as a foreigner, but the corporate sector keeps growing in Portugal. To speak of facts, Portugal tops the unemployment chart among all the EU countries. In addition to this, foreigners who do not speak Portuguese might find it hard to infiltrate in densely saturated Portuguese-speaking job market..

However, international companies are increasingly establishing themselves in Portugal, which is a beam of hope for expats.  These international companies make it easy for expats to find a job in Portugal. No matter if your work industry is  IT, marketing, or freelancing, you will find abundant jobs with a rise in international market establishment.

Furthermore, the tourism industry and real estate industry are also good choices for expats to pursue as sources of income. If you ask me, “Is it difficult to find a job in Portugal?”  when you are interested in the hospitality business, I would say, No, it isn’t hard. To get a job in the hospitality industry, you only need to be fluent in the English language.

In addition to this, you can also get yourself a job in the hospitality industry if you are good at speaking languages like German, Spanish, and French.  You can also teach your language if grammar is your forte.

Are you planning to shift to Portugal and yet wondering if is it difficult to find a job in Portugal?

We would suggest you research your niche and job opportunities related to your job industry in Portugal before you shift to the country. If you find a company that meets all your job expectations, keep your eyes on their recruitment page and pitch for any opportunity that matches your expertise.

How to Apply for a Job in Portugal?

Is it difficult to find a job in Portugal? The answer  relies on your ability to understand the Portuguese job market. In order to get a Portuguese job, you will need to craft your CV to match the Portuguese style. Subsequently, research on their interview process and networking events.

Here are some of the tips for you to create a CV that matches the Portuguese style:

• As is the trend worldwide, short resumes are appreciated more in the Portuguese job market. Your CV should be short and comprehensive and showcase all your expertise and achievements. However, if a job requires you to mention a technical detail, you should add it to your resume and make it as long as two pages.
• Your CV should start with your introduction, including your name, nationality, date of birth, and the city you live in. Furthermore, you can also attach a picture in your CV. Some recruiters would require you to attach an image to your CV, but you can go at your convenience when it is not specified.
• The experience section in your CV should include your most recent job, and you should mention the job duties you were obliged to do in that particular company.
• Furthermore, your education and qualifications should also be in ascending order,
•  with your most recent qualification mentioned first.
• You can also add your hard or soft skulls and even your hobbies if these are related to the job you are applying for.
• Lastly, you should submit your CV in English or translate it into the language specified by the recruiter.

Although cover letters are not necessary, some of the companies might expect you to submit your cover letter. You can use this opportunity to showcase your experience and assert how you can be a good choice for the company.

In addition to this, you may not require references added to your CV. However, as you pass through different stages of recruitment, you might be asked to provide references. For an interview, you must pay attention to your presentation.  Going with a formal dress code is the right choice when giving an interview for a Portuguese firm. However, you must always look into the company culture as well.

 Is it difficult to find a job in Portugal who spends their days in cities like Lisbon or Porto? For people who frequently visit these cities, finding a job is an easy task to do. You only have to attend the network events, where you will be able to meet employers in a casual setting.

What is the Average Salary in Portugal?

The average salary in Portugal is comparatively lower than many of the European countries. However, you must not forget the lower living costs of Portugal here. That way, the minimum living costs balance the low wages.

To be specific, the average Portuguese salary is 1,100 per month, while the minimum wage is about € 740 per month. However, you should know one thing: the minimum wage is settled under the law.

Like it is in any other part of the world, the average salary in Portugal varies with profession, experience years, qualification, skills, and so on. However, the average salary of the skilled worker is about €22,500, which becomes $24,700 per annum.

As an expat, you have a high chance to get a job in industries like tourism and hospitality because these industries have high job demands. You will definitely get your hands on a tourist job as an English speaker when you start seeking jobs in Portugal.

Communication, tech, and the healthcare sector are also always in need of an employee. These industries have high employee demand in Portugal, especially when you are in cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Braga. If you are a web developer, and you are in one of the above-mentioned cities, stop questioning: Is it difficult to find a job in Portugal? Because it is not for you!

Here is the list of annual salaries of different professionals in Portugal:

Working as self-employed also has a good scope in Portugal. You can be self-employed either when you are establishing a startup or are working as a freelancer. Before you start your work as a freelancer or a sole business owner, you will have to register yourself first. 

What is Work Culture Like in Portugal?

You would know that the work culture varies from company to company, same is the case with Portuguese corporate. However, you will find the startups slightly more fast-paced with a vague bureaucracy. On the other hand, completely established companies will have a clear hierarchy. You can get an idea of the company culture through the initial stages of recruitment and talking to your new colleagues.

the Portuguese maintain a healthy work-life balance and believe in the quality of life. Traditionally, the average working hours per week in Portugal are 40 hours from Monday to Friday. For a corporate employee,  the day starts at 19:00 am and ends at 18:30 pm, with a lunch break in between.

Furthermore, the dress code also varies from company to company. Many companies foster business casual dress codes. But you should suit your dressing habits to the environment you are working in.

Portugal offers an abundance of job opportunities relating to multiple fields, one of them might be your favorite. Before you plan to commute to Portugal, you should get a job in the country. Do not drop your plan to shift to Portugal after the question: Is it difficult to find a job in Portugal?, pokes in your mind. You can find yourself a job relevant to your expertise and if not, you can start your career as a teacher of your native language in Portugal.

Also read about, How to Find a Job in Portugal For Foreigners>>