Portugal reports rise in high‑earning workers amid increasing food import reliance

Randstad Portugal data shows that the number of employees earning a net monthly salary of €3,000 or more has more than quadrupled over the past decade, rising from 28,700 in the second quarter of 2016 to 125,000 in the second quarter of 2026. These high‑earners now make up 2.7% of the workforce, are predominantly male (69.2%), concentrated in the services sector (78.7%) and located mainly in Greater Lisbon and the North. Unemployment fell to a historic low of 5.3% and the active population exceeded 5.7 million, with manufacturing and construction adding the most jobs in the latest quarter.

At the same time, Portugal’s food self‑sufficiency has eroded. The country now imports the majority of its cereals, fish, beef and fruit, while remaining self‑sufficient in eggs, vegetables and olive oil. The decline began after Portugal joined the European Economic Community and adopted the Common Agricultural Policy, which led many small farms to close and increased dependence on foreign supplies, raising concerns about long‑term food security.