Portugal attracts workers from all over Europe with its low property prices, good weather, and laid-back vibe, despite the fact that it’s in a rough economic patch. People who come here to work range from youngsters fresh out of university to those at the height of their careers, either looking for advancement or a change of pace.
The Portugal job market can be challenging, however, especially with many industries shrinking as a result of the recent bailout. The travel and service sectors account for more than half the jobs, making it especially ideal for sales, marketing, tourism, and engineering graduates. Indeed, even in this economic environment some areas continue to flourish—for instance, with tourism stepping up to boost the economy, the hospitality industry is a hotbed of jobs. Opportunities abound particularly in design, management, food service, finance, and customer relations.
The market isn’t without its challenges, of course. For one thing, the concentration of jobs in just a few industries has resulted in a high unemployment rate. That means expats will have to compete with locals for many of the jobs—and residents have the ready advantage of speaking the language. Since most of the thriving sectors involve considerable contact with the public, those who speak only English may not be prioritized.
Fortunately there are alternatives for English speakers, at least for temporary work while learning Portuguese. Property, agriculture, and forestry are some of the more stable sectors, and most people can get by in these settings speaking mostly English. Call centers (e.g. customer service representatives) are also beginning to grow, and native or near-native English can be a plus in most of them.
Another way to increase your chances of finding work is to move out of the capital. Many Portuguese are already flocking to Lisbon to get a slice of the already saturated job market, even as other areas are on the rise. Some good alternatives are Porto (the famous wine region), Amadora, Braga, Funchal, and Coimbra.
As is often the case with international employment, your qualifications may not be recognized at the same level in Portugal as your home country. Most British and American institutions are accredited in the country, but you may have to take additional courses to focus your skills on the Portugal market. Most graduates from mainland Europe and many surrounding islands can visit a National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) in the area to see how their credentials stack up.