Lisbon, July 1, 2025 (Lusa) - The unemployment rate stood at 6.3% in May, 0.1 percentage points lower than in the same month of 2024 and equal to April, Statistics Portugal (INE) announced on Tuesday.

According to the Monthly Employment and Unemployment Estimates, in May, ‘the unemployment rate stood at 6.3%, the same as in April 2025, but lower than in February 2025 and May 2024 (0.1 percentage points in both cases)’.

The labour underutilisation rate was estimated at 10.5%, lower than the previous month (0.1 points), three months earlier and the same month last year (0.4 points in both).

According to provisional estimates by INE, in May, the active population (5,554,900) decreased compared to April this year (0.2%), but increased compared to February of the same year (0.4%) and May 2024 (2.5%).

The employed population (5,206,000) decreased compared to the previous month (0.2%), but increased compared to three months earlier (0.5%) and the same month last year (2.6%).

The unemployed population (348,900) remained practically unchanged compared to the previous month, but decreased compared to three months earlier (2.2%) and increased compared to the same month of 2024 (1.4%).

In turn, the inactive population (2,470,200) increased compared to the previous month (23,100; 0.9%) and three months earlier (3,300; 0.1%), but decreased compared to the same month last year (22,800; 0.9%).

The Institute also reported the final estimates for April, which point to an unemployment rate of 6.3%, as had been announced on 2 June.

MPE/ADB // ADB.

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