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The unemployment rate stood at 6.7% and the labour underutilisation rate at 12.9%
Employment statistics
The unemployment rate stood at 6.7% and the labour underutilisation rate at 12.9% - 1st Quarter 2020
06 May 2020

Summary

The unemployment rate stood at 6.7%, equal to the value of the previous quarter and lower by 0.1 percentage points (pp) than the value of a year earlier.
The unemployed population, estimated at 348.1 thousand people, has decreased by 1.2% (4.3 thousand) from the previous quarter and by 1.6% (5.5 thousand) from the 1st quarter of 2019.
The employed population, 4,865.9 thousand people, has decreased by 0.9% (41.7 thousand) from the previous quarter and by 0.3% (14.3 thousand) from the year before, being the first year-on-year decrease since the 3rd quarter of 2013.
The employed population absent from work was estimated at 452.1 thousand people (9.3% of total employed population), having increased by 33.0% (112.2 thousand) from the previous quarter. This increase was due essentially to slack work for technical or economic reasons (it includes the contract temporary suspension and layoff), which was mentioned by 68.3 thousand workers absent from work.
The labour underutilisation was estimated at 694.7 thousand people, having increased by 2.5% (16.7 thousand) from the previous quarter and decreased by 5.8% (43.1 thousand) from the previous year. The labour underutilisation rate was 12.9% and has increased by 0.4 pp from the previous quarter, while having decreased by 0.7 pp when compared to the value of a year earlier.
The inactive population aged 15 and over (3,676.4 thousand people) has increased by 1.9% (67.8 thousand) from the previous quarter and by 1.4% (49.7 thousand) from the 1st quarter of 2019. That quarterly increase was the largest occurred in a 1st quarter since 2011.

The information in this Press Release is already partially influenced by the current situation determined by the pandemic COVID-19, either by the natural disturbance associated with the impact of the pandemic in obtaining primary information or by the behavioural changes resulting from the measures adopted to safeguard public health (for more, see page 14).
Despite the circumstances, Statistics Portugal will try to maintain the statistical production and release calendar, although some adjustments might occur. We reinforce our call for better collaboration by citizens, private and public entities in answering to Statistics Portugal's requests. The quality of official statistics, particularly its ability to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, depends crucially on this collaboration that Statistics Portugal is grateful for in advance.

 


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