More than 80% of workers with higher education earn above-average income in Portugal, with about one-third earning more than double, according to an OECD report released today, which also highlights advantages in employment opportunities.
The benefits of entering the job market with a higher education degree are well-known and reaffirmed in the 2025 edition of Education at a Glance, the annual report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) providing statistics on the educational systems of its 38 member countries.
The latest data, from 2023, shows that 83% of adults aged 25 to 64 with at least a bachelor’s degree earned above-average salaries.
The situation for more qualified workers in Portugal contrasts with that of those with lower academic qualifications; among adults who only completed secondary education, 53% earned below the average salary, a figure even higher at 66% among those who did not finish high school.
Conversely, less than 10% of individuals without higher education make more than double the average salary. The percentage significantly increases to 36% among graduates.
Apart from salary advantages, Education at a Glance 2025 also emphasizes the link between employment rates and qualifications, showcasing the clear benefits of higher education in this regard.
Graduate Employability
Data from 2024 shows nine out of ten graduates were employed that year (91%).
The employment rate among adults with a high school diploma was slightly lower at 86% and even lower among those who did not complete secondary education.
However, regarding job acquisition ease, the differences between having or not having a higher education degree are less pronounced in Portugal than the OECD average.
In Portugal, only five percentage points separate the employment rate between the two academic levels, compared to a nine-point difference OECD-wide.
Women, in particular, benefit from higher education in the job market, as gender disparities in job acquisition ease diminish with higher qualification levels.
In 2024, 66% of women aged 25 to 64 without secondary education were employed, compared to 79% of men with the same education level.
With secondary education, the employment rate was 82% for women and 88% for men. At the higher education level, there is no difference: both genders have an 89% employment rate.
The advantages persist as students pursue higher education, with greater ease in finding work for those with master’s degrees and, particularly, doctorates compared to those with only bachelor’s degrees.
In recent years, more young people have entered higher education, with the percentage of young adults aged 25 to 35 with higher education rising from 38% in 2019 to 43% in 2024.
Nonetheless, Portugal remains one of the countries with the highest percentage of the adult population lacking even a high school diploma (38%).
Bachelor’s degrees continue to be the main entry point into higher education, with new students predominantly female, representing just over half.
Gender-wise, women also find it easier to complete their courses within three years after the expected duration.
Regarding school dropout rates, Portugal fares better than the OECD average, with an 8% dropout rate after the first year compared to the member states’ average of 13%.
