Overall official unemployment figures for Portugal’s labour force fell 13.6% in the twelve months to the end of this November when compared to the figure in November 2013.
The number of unemployed registered in employment centres was 598,083 at the end of November, representing a decrease of 13.6% or 93,936 people over the same period in 2013.
The figures come from the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) and although they will be seized on by opposition parties for not reflecting the true picture, may well illustrate an easing of the unemployment burden on taxpayers.
In terms of age groups, the young seem to have done better than adults with the total youth unemployment down 17.8% and adults down 12.9%.
At the regional level, unemployment decreased across the country, but the most significant drop was seen in the Algarve, down 17%, followed by the Alentejo, down 14.4% and the Central region down 14%.
