Labor & Taxes
More than 50% of immigrants in Portugal are in jobs below their qualification level
A 2025 study by the Migration Observatory found that 52.3% of non-EU citizens with higher education degrees are overqualified for their roles in Portugal, compared to 14.1% of Portuguese nationals. The report highlights that foreign workers face higher rates of temporary contracts and working poverty, despite having high employment participation rates.
Why it mattersIf you are a foreign professional with higher education in Portugal, you are statistically more likely to be underemployed in your field than your Portuguese counterparts; the report suggests that simplifying qualification recognition is the primary policy path to improving these prospects.
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