The unemployment rate in Portugal, as at the end of July 2017, stood at 8.9%, according to the National Institute of Statistics. This is the lowest figure since November 2008, when the rate also was 8.9%.
The Secretary of State for Employment, Miguel Cabrita, believes that the numbers show that "the economy is more dynamic and that the government has made the right decision in restoring the incomes of families."
The unemployment rate for young people remains a big worry at 24.6%, an increase of 1.6% over the previous month.
The unemployment rate for adults was 7.7% down by 0.1% on June.
The Secretary of State acknowledged that, despite the jobs that have been created, much work remains to be done to end temporary jobs with poor conditions.
"There are still obvious signs of precariousness, which never cease to concern us," said Cabrita.
According to the Institute, in August the unemployment rate for women (9.4%) exceeded that for men (8.5%)
Miguel Cabrita said that the confidence of investors, business people and consumers has increased, which "creates new conditions for investment and job creation," and that the course adopted by the government is bearing fruit.
The Secretary of State also claimed that the reduction of unemployment was not a summertime seasonal thing as, "In segments such as long-term unemployment and young people, there have been improvements."
