Employees by occupation in Portugal
Portugal: Employees by occupation was 4,468 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
4,468 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
14th
of 47 countries
All-time high
4,468 Thousand persons
in 2025
All-time low
2,886 Thousand persons
in 1986
Years of data
40
1986–2025
Employees by occupation in Portugal, 1986–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 4,468 Thousand persons for employees by occupation in 2025. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employees by occupation in Portugal peaked at 4,468 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,886 Thousand persons, in 1986.
That places Portugal 14th out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Employees by occupation in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 2,886 Thousand persons | — |
| 1987 | 2,939 Thousand persons | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 3,054 Thousand persons | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 3,176 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 3,289 Thousand persons | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 3,354 Thousand persons | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 3,352 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 3,302 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 3,224 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 3,189 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 3,169 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 3,236 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 3,442 Thousand persons | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 3,548 Thousand persons | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 3,646 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 3,689 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 3,741 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 3,702 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 3,741 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 3,742 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3,822 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 3,826 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 3,870 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 3,772 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 3,762 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 3,706 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 3,534 Thousand persons | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 3,450 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 3,608 Thousand persons | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 3,711 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 3,790 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 3,951 Thousand persons | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 4,060 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 4,088 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 3,997 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 4,031 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 4,184 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 4,303 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 4,345 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 4,468 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 4,468 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,801 Thousand persons, 1.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 4,468 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,127 Thousand persons, 1.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,014 Thousand persons | 2,886 Thousand persons | 3,176 Thousand persons | 4 |
| 1990s | 3,310 Thousand persons | 3,169 Thousand persons | 3,548 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,755 Thousand persons | 3,646 Thousand persons | 3,870 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,766 Thousand persons | 3,450 Thousand persons | 4,088 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,222 Thousand persons | 3,997 Thousand persons | 4,468 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More work & labour data for Portugal
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0538 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.055 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0528 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1795 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,134 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,861 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,504 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,250 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 8,754 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employees by occupation in Portugal?
- Employees by occupation in Portugal was 4,468 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest employees by occupation recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 4,468 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest employees by occupation recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,886 Thousand persons in 1986.
- How does Portugal rank for employees by occupation?
- Portugal ranks 14th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employees by occupation rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employees by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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