The Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) has launched an “internal campaign” offering job opportunities to young people not receiving unemployment benefits, announced Secretary of State for Employment and Labour, Adriano Rafael Moreira.
“The Employment Institute is conducting an internal campaign of contact and job offers to all young people registered with the employment institute without unemployment benefits,” stated Secretary of State for Employment and Labour, Adriano Rafael Moreira, who was present alongside the rest of the ministerial team at a hearing in the Assembly of the Republic regarding the State Budget proposal for 2026 (OE2026).
Adriano Rafael Moreira highlighted that this initiative is, along with the new incentive to return to work, part of the Government’s measures to “combat youth unemployment.”
The incentive involves “an exceptional measure encouraging a return to work,” aimed at unemployed young people under 30 who are registered with the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) and receiving unemployment benefits, as outlined in a decree published in the Diário da República.
According to the Secretary of State, this measure also seeks to demonstrate to society that, despite the country being in a state of full employment, “there are job opportunities in Portugal that do not justify leaving the country.”
“We must retain our young people in Portugal,” he emphasized, adding that it is also necessary “to encourage others to return.”
The IEFP estimates that the new incentive represents a saving of 13 million euros for the state treasury, according to an official source from the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security.
The institution also expects to cover 8,000 beneficiaries with this measure.
The labor market in Portugal has been near full employment, with the unemployment rate dropping to 6.1% in August, compared to the same month in 2024, according to the latest data released by the INE.
However, youth unemployment, although decreasing in recent months, remains at high levels. The youth unemployment rate reached its lowest value – 18.9% – in June and August 2025 since June 2023 (18.5%).
The OE2026 proposal will be discussed and voted on in general on October 27-28. The final global vote is scheduled for November 27, following the detailed debate process.
