Portugal youth emigration analysis examines skilled labor trends

An analysis by Banco de Portugal authors Nuno Alves and Vanda Cunha examines the phenomenon of skilled youth emigration in Portugal. While Portugal experiences high rates of youth emigration, data indicates that individuals with higher education emigrate at lower proportional rates than those without such qualifications.

In 2021, among Portuguese-born individuals aged 25 to 34, 31% of those living abroad held higher education degrees, compared to 39% of those residing in Portugal. Although the percentage of emigrants with higher education is rising, this increase has been even more pronounced among the youth population remaining in the country. The analysis suggests that the high stock of qualified young people in Portugal may be reconciled with emigration flows through the possibility that many emigrants eventually return after gaining international experience.