Despite being only 2.1% of the total and even having reduced their weight in 2023, compared to the previous year, the 10,705 branches of foreign companies in Portugal are worth 18.5% of employment, 29% of revenue and 27.8% of the gross value added (GVA) of non-financial companies in the country.

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), these subsidiaries of international groups employed around 682 thousand people, recorded sales of 154 billion euros and contributed 38 billion euros to the Portuguese GDP, by the degree of incorporation of value generated throughout the production process.

On average, each branch provides employment to 64 people, a value “significantly higher” than the average for national companies (6 people), having added 43 thousand jobs between 2022 and 2023. With apparent labor productivity reaching 55,674 euros and average monthly remuneration rising 5.9% to 1,745 euros, these foreign companies are 67% and 42.5%, respectively, above the values ​​observed in national companies.

Between 2010 and 2023, foreign subsidiaries registered, on average, with a labour productivity 18,800 euros higher than the average for national companies. The average monthly remuneration was also always higher in foreign branches, on average 417 euros more than in national companies, according to the statistics office on a broader horizon.