According to the annual survey by recruitment consultancy Hays on companies' hiring intentions, cited by Expresso, the overwhelming majority (61%) will not give pay raises greater than 4.9%. On the other hand, the gap between the availability of companies to hire and the willingness of workers to change jobs has increased, which could make it difficult for companies to hire: only 70% of employees are willing to change jobs, the lowest figure in recent years four years.

But uncertainty will not hold back hiring. “Portuguese companies want to continue to strengthen their structures in a very similar way to 2022”, according to Paula Baptista, director general of Hays Portugal.

The study concludes that 82% of employers want to hire in 2023, based on the perspectives of 800 employers in Portugal and more than 3,100 professionals from various sectors.