According to the IEFP, at the end of February, 305,179 unemployed people were registered with employment services in mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions, representing 68.3% of a total of 446,736 job applications.

This number is 33,556 people lower than that recorded in the same month of 2025, with the variation explained by changes in those registered for less than 12 months (-26,057), those seeking new employment (-27,078), and those aged 25 or older (-24,936).

Unemployed couples

The number of couples with both partners unemployed fell by 12.6% in February, compared to the same period last year, and by 3.1% compared to January.

"Of the total number of unemployed married or cohabiting individuals, 9,100 (7.8%) also have a record indicating that their spouse is also registered as unemployed with the employment service, totalling 4,550 unemployed couples in February 2026, which represents -12.6% when compared to the same period of the previous year," reads the IEFP report.

In a chain comparison, the number of couples where both spouses are unemployed decreased by 3.1%.

For several years, couples in this situation of double unemployment have been entitled to a 10% increase in the value of their unemployment insurance benefit when they have dependents.

According to IEFP data, at the end of February 2026, 295,083 unemployed people were registered with employment services on the mainland, of which 39.7% were married or living in a union, totalling 117,132.

Registered unemployment with employment services on the mainland decreased by 9.8% compared to the same period last year and by 1.8% compared to the previous month.

Regarding the total number of unemployed people who are married or in a stable union, there was a decrease of 8.7% (-11,121 unemployed) compared to February 2025 and of 2.1% (-2,521 unemployed) compared to January 2026.