Portugal desperately needs immigrants to combat labour shortage

Paul Rees 04 November 2018

constructionUK The coordinator of the Emigration Observatory says that Portugal "desperately needs" more immigrants and, in order to solve the problem of lack of labour, should make it easier for foreigners to come and work here - the government should, "run recruitment campaigns in key overseas markets."

For sociologist Rui Pena Pires, the labour problem that Portugal faces can only be solved by more immigration which, if it does not happen, leaves the country heading towards its own "suicide."

"The country spends too much time talking about the birth rate,” said Pires, arguing that current policies to encourage more babies will not solve the immediate problem of labour shortages that exist in many sectors.

"The demographic dynamics of the birth rate and mortality have no short-term consequences," said the sociologist.

Considering the current problems facing countries, from nationalist movements to large flows of immigration, Pires points to positive examples from Canada and Australia where immigration has not destabilised the country, “They are prosperous and peaceful countries."

Vítor Antunes, executive director of Manpower, says that Portugal needs to combat the problem, "not only by the return of some emigrants, but also by immigration."

Antunes says there is a scarcity of electricians, welders, mechanics and technicians, such as drivers, engineers, computer scientists, teachers, customer support workers, lawyers, project managers and administrative staff.

Manpower’s, ‘Talent Shortage Survey,' shows that 46% of Portugal’s companies have had above-average difficulties in recruiting the right talent, this being the largest increase since 2016, with 35% of bosses saying that interviewees did not have the necessary skills for the jobs on offer

Pena Pires says that fewer obstacles need to be put in the way of immigrants and that, "Immigrants from Lusophone countries always have a language advantage, which greatly facilitates integration."

Comments

-2 #5 KT 2018-11-06 11:08

Wages in Portugal are a joke, why would anyone with qualifications choose to work here. Immigration is a success in Australia and Canada because the wages are five times higher.

+7 #4 Denby 2018-11-05 09:10

The government need to respect the skills that people have worked hard to acquire and pay a proper living wage, this is the only way that they will be able to encourage citizens to return and others to consider working here.
When you consider that car ownership is a luxury item in Portugal, because the cost of purchasing,
servicing and fuel for a car are the same cost as it is in the UK, yet the wages are a lot higher in the UK than they are here in Portugal, so anyone on a moderate wage could not afford to have a car.
It is not considered a luxury item in any other country as it is an essential part of modern life and it is factored into the cost of living in that country as it should be here.

0 #3 mj1 2018-11-05 08:59

and how I remember when there loads of eastern Europeans here, a Russian doctor who had to work as a cleaner because the Portuguese wouldn't recognise her diplomas. a structural engineer who had to work as a labourer mixing cement, and then who can forget they were being paid (if at all) 1 euro an hour

+8 #2 liveaboard 2018-11-05 00:07

The reason applicants don't have the required skills is because the employers don't offer the required wage.
Those with higher skills have left to work in countries where their income will actually be sufficient to live on.
It's fine to allow workers in as required, but if the wage on offer won't pay their bills, they won't stay.

0 #1 mj1 2018-11-04 22:43

so we read "should make it easier for foreigners to come and work here"

is it april the first already :sad: