In the realm of European labor dynamics, Portugal emerges as a fascinating case study, particularly when it comes to working hours and the skill levels of its workforce. While the country has made strides in recent years, it still grapples with a unique set of challenges that shape its employment landscape.
One of the most striking aspects of Portugal's labor market is the prevalence of long working hours. According to Randstad Research, Portugal ranks fourth in the European Union for the share of professionals regularly working 49 hours or more per week in their main job. This figure, which covers 9.1% of employees, is significantly higher than the EU average of 6.5%. What makes this particularly fascinating is the cultural aspect. Portugal maintains a culture of long hours above the European average, despite a reduction since 2000. This trend disproportionately affects employers and the self-employed, with around 35% of employers regularly working at least 49 hours a week in 2024, compared to roughly 6.8% of employees.
What makes this situation even more intriguing is the contrast with other European economies. Portugal's long working hours are higher than in countries like Germany and Spain, where the percentage of professionals subject to long hours is significantly lower. This raises a deeper question: Why does Portugal have such a high incidence of long working hours, and what cultural or economic factors contribute to this phenomenon?
Another critical aspect of Portugal's labor market is the skill levels of its workforce. Randstad's analysis reveals a favorable evolution in the qualifications of the working population aged between 15 and 64 in Portugal. The proportion of working people with higher education has tripled since 1992, rising from 11.4% to 33.7% at the close of 2024. However, by the fourth quarter of 2025, Portugal still had only 36.2% of its citizens who had completed higher education, which is below the average of the 27 European Union member states, which stands at 39.2%.
This raises a crucial point: While Portugal has made significant progress in educating its workforce, it still lags behind many of its European counterparts. This discrepancy is particularly notable when compared to countries like Ireland, which has the highest proportion of working people with higher education, and Romania, which has the lowest.
In the context of foreign laborers, Portugal has seen a marked and recent growth in the representation of foreigners in the labor force. The proportion of foreign citizens in the labor force was around 7.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025, which is lower than countries like Luxembourg (54.4%) and Spain (16.8%). However, this figure has skyrocketed since 2000, from 1.4% to 6.6% at the close of 2024, reflecting the new dynamic of attracting talent and the growing importance of immigration for the sustainability of the Portuguese labor market.
In conclusion, Portugal's labor market is a complex tapestry of long working hours and a skilled but still evolving workforce. While the country has made significant progress in educating its workforce, it still grapples with cultural and economic factors that contribute to its unique employment landscape. As Portugal continues to navigate these challenges, it will be fascinating to see how it adapts and evolves to meet the demands of a changing global economy.
