Portugal IT and healthcare sectors lead job growth and high salaries

The Randstad 2026/2027 Salary Trends Study highlights the information and communication technology (IT) sector as the leader in Portuguese employment and wages. In the second quarter of 2026, the IT sector employed 237,200 people, representing approximately 4.4% of the total workforce, following a year-on-year increase of 13.2% (27,600 jobs). Average annual salaries in this sector range between €40,000 and €55,000. High-demand roles include specialists in cloud and security, data analytics, BI and AI, software development, business applications (CRM/ERP), and IT management and strategy.

The life sciences and healthcare sector also serves as a major driver for skilled job creation. According to INE data, human health and social care employment reached 567,700 people, or about 10.5% of the workforce, marking an 8.2% annual increase. In the pharmaceutical and research fields, average gross annual salaries range from €35,000 to €60,000, with significant demand for roles in quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and medical affairs. In general healthcare services, average annual salaries range from €30,000 to €46,000, with a focus on recruiting doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.