These values represent 4,045 fewer people unemployed in February compared to the previous month, but 15,363 more people compared to February 2023.

The number of registered unemployed people had been increasing for seven consecutive months in a row and for eight months year-on-year.

In a note sent to Lusa, on the data released by the Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP), the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security indicates that the year-on-year growth in unemployment in February results from the "increase in the active population".

The number of registered unemployed people "is the third lowest in the month of February in the last 20 years (only higher than 2020 and 2023)", adds the office.

Long-term unemployment (people registered for more than a year) reached the lowest value since records, with a decrease of 2.3% (2,765 fewer people) compared to the previous month and a drop of 4.1% ( 4,926 people less) year-on-year, representing 35% of registered unemployment (38.3% in the same month of 2023).

Youth unemployment registered an increase, with 879 more young people compared to the same month in 2023, says the ministry.

“These are very positive results, which confirm the stabilization of unemployment at the minimum values of this century, even with the challenges we faced from 2020 onwards, with a pandemic, a war and the rise in inflation” highlights the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho.

The official also points out that "Portugal is at historic highs in terms of employed population, growth that is also sustained in terms of wage appreciation, that is, more and better jobs."