The number of unemployment benefit recipients decreased by 3.3% in August compared to the same period last year, but rose by 0.3% compared to July, reaching 179,517, according to the Social Security statistical summary.
Compared to the same period last year, there was a decrease of 6,169 beneficiaries, representing a drop of 3.3%.
In comparison to the previous month, there was a rise of 558 in August, equivalent to 0.3%, according to the summary from the Directorate of Strategy and Planning (GEP) of the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security.
This data ends a cycle of five consecutive months of decline, as the number of unemployment benefit recipients had been decreasing consecutively from February to July, reaching 178,959, the lowest value since July 2024, according to Lusa’s analysis based on available data.
Regarding unemployment benefits, there was a year-on-year decline of 2.3% in the number of beneficiaries in August (3,433 fewer), totaling 146,376. Comparing sequentially, there was a rise of 1.1% (1,584 more beneficiaries).
“The average monthly value of unemployment benefits in August was 712.86 euros, representing an annual positive variation of 8.2%,” noted the GEP.
Meanwhile, the number of initial social unemployment benefit recipients decreased by 19.4% compared to the same month last year (1,298 fewer processed subsidies) and declined by 2.6% compared to July (a decrease of 144 beneficiaries), totaling 5,403.
As for subsequent social unemployment benefits, this covered 19,953 in August, corresponding to a year-on-year decline of 4% (833 fewer beneficiaries) and a 2% monthly reduction (417 fewer beneficiaries).
As has been the trend, the majority of unemployment benefits were requested by women, with 105,869 female beneficiaries compared to 73,648 male beneficiaries (41%).
