Labor Secretary Miguel Fontes said this Friday that the unemployment rate, set at 6.4% in May according to the INE, is “at a historically very low level”, representing a “good problem” for the government.
“We looked at these numbers and this unemployment rate yesterday [quinta-feira] released by INE [Instituto Nacional de Estatística] of 6.4%, with great confidence, without any triumphalism. These are very positive numbers,” he said.
On the sidelines of the 1st Coimbra Employment Fair and Training Exhibition, taking place at S. Francisco Convent, the official stressed that the unemployment figures for May make this month one of the best “in a very long line of years”.
“We have a universe of unemployed people that is very small and I usually say that’s a good problem. As Secretary of State for Labour, I would rather have this problem than its opposite, which is the problem of high unemployment,” he insisted.
According to him, these figures represent a challenge for employers, who “have to compete for talent, for the people factor”.
“This brings positive dynamics, including the increase in wages for Portuguese workers. So far this year we have seen a significant increase, by about 8% in the work declared to social security, that makes us particularly satisfied,” he said.
In conversation with the Lusa agency he also defended that by improving wages and working conditions for the Portuguese, it would contribute to a more robust and competitive economy.
“It’s not one thing before the other: we’re all doing this at the same time. If there’s one thing that characterizes today’s societies and companies operating in the marketplace, it’s the battle for talent,” he concluded.
The unemployment rate stood at 6.4% in May, up 0.4 percentage points year-on-year but down 0.1 point from the value recorded in the previous month, according to data from INE.
According to the statistical authority, the unemployed population (338,600) decreased compared to the previous month (1.7%) and three months before (6.4%), and increased compared to the same month (8.5%).
Source: DN
