Portugal lay-off numbers rise monthly despite annual decline

The number of workers on lay-off in Portugal fell by 5.5% in July compared to the same period last year, totaling 3,759 individuals, according to data from Social Security.

Despite the year-on-year decrease, there was a significant 37.7% increase in lay-off cases compared to June. This rise was driven primarily by the temporary suspension of work contracts, which increased by 77.2% from the previous month to reach 2,087 cases. In contrast, the regime for reducing working hours saw a 7.8% increase compared to June, covering 1,672 people.

In July, lay-off benefits were processed for 219 employing entities, representing a decrease of 25 entities compared to the same month in the previous year.