In March, "the unemployment rate stood at 5.8%, the same value as in February 2026, higher than in December 2025 (0.2 p.p.), but lower than in March of the previous year (0.5 p.p.)," states the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The underutilisation rate of labour was estimated at 9.8%, "the same value as the previous month," 0.1 percentage points higher than three months earlier and lower than the 10.7% of March of the previous year.

The INE added that in March of this year, the employed population reached 5,300,400 people, a value 0.1% higher than that recorded in February, but 0.3% lower than three months earlier. In year-on-year terms, it increased by 2.2%, or approximately 114,500 people.

In the month under review, the unemployment rate for women (6.3%) remained higher than that for men (5.3%), while the youth unemployment rate, estimated at 18.1%, reached its lowest level since October 2022 (17.5%).

The active population reached 5,628,800 people, 1.7% more than a year ago, while the unemployed population increased by 5.5% year-on-year, to 328,400 people.

The inactive population decreased by 0.1% month-on-month and by 1.7% year-on-year, ending the month at an estimated 2,432,800 people.

In March of this year, the inactivity rate was estimated at 9.8%, a value equivalent to that recorded in February, but below the 10.7% recorded a year earlier.