Portugal is the EU country with the highest proportion of employers without education or with basic education

Portugal is the country of European Union which has the highest proportion of employers without education or with basic education, despite the improvement recorded in recent years, according to data released this Tuesday by Pordata.

In a portrait of the job market in Portugal, as part of the 1st of May (Workers’ Day), Pordata highlights that almost half of self-employed workers as employers (44%) have, at most, up to the 9th year of schooling.

However, there is a positive evolution compared to the 60% recorded 10 years ago.

Pordata highlights that, on the other hand, In 2023, employees in Portugal were equally distributed by level of education: 1/3 up to the 9th year, 1/3 with secondary education and 1/3 with a higher education degree.

According to the data, the largest increase in workers per level of education in 10 years was recorded among graduates (+10 percentage points) and the biggest decrease in people with the 1st cycle of basic educationthat is, the 4th year (-7 percentage points).

In 2013, 1.2% of employees did not have any education cycle, 13.3% had the first cycle, 13.8% the second cycle and 22.4% the third cycle, while 25.7% had secondary and post-secondary education and 23.6% had higher education.

In 2023, 0.5% had no education cycle, 6.3% had the first cycle, 8.9% the second cycle, 18.2% the third cycle, 33% secondary and post-secondary education and 33. 1% higher education.