Portugal's technology sector is emerging as the country's most dynamic employment engine, offering some of the highest salaries and the fastest job creation, according to the latest Salary Trends Study from Dutch HR firm Randstad. The report, covering 2026/2027, shows that employment in information and communication rose by 27,600 year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 237,200 workers – about 4.4% of the national workforce. Annual gross salaries for IT roles surveyed range from €40,000 to €55,000.
The study, which cross-references Randstad's recruitment database with official statistics from INE and Eurostat, identifies the most sought-after skills in Portugal's tech sector: cloud and security, data analytics, BI and AI, software development, business applications (CRM/ERP), and IT management and strategy. This demand reflects a broader European trend, where digital transformation is reshaping labour markets from Lisbon to Tallinn.
Healthcare and life sciences: a close second
Just behind technology, the life sciences and healthcare sector is proving a major driver of skilled employment. According to INE's Employment Survey for Q2 2026, human health and social care employs 567,700 people – 10.5% of the national total – after adding 43,200 jobs year-on-year (+8.2%). Randstad notes that this "consolidates healthcare as one of the biggest drivers of skilled job creation in the country."
In pharmaceuticals and research, average gross annual salaries range from €35,000 to €60,000, with strong demand for sales representatives, quality assurance roles, regulatory affairs, market access, and medical affairs. In healthcare itself, salaries average between €30,000 and €46,000, with employers recruiting nurses, doctors, multi-therapy technicians, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacists.
Engineering and industry: stability and growth
Engineering and industry also stand out as a highly skilled sector with notable job stability. The industrial workforce – covering extractive industries, manufacturing, electricity, gas, water, and construction – stood at 1,333,700 people in Q2 2026, about 24.7% of the national total. That represents an increase of 43,000 jobs (+3.3%) year-on-year. Average salaries are estimated at €33,500 to €49,500 gross per annum, with companies actively seeking site managers, automation and robotics engineers, product development engineers, production supervisors, and supply chain or logistics technicians.
Banking and insurance, though smaller, is also expanding. With a workforce of 118,700 (2.2% of total employment), the sector added 8,400 jobs (+7.6%) year-on-year. Randstad attributes this growth to "an ongoing restructuring of branches and gains in operational efficiency through digitalisation in traditional banking." Salaries range from €35,000 to €50,000, with the most in-demand roles being business manager, compliance officer, corporate finance analyst, underwriter, and private banker.
Marketing, sales, and professional services
In marketing and sales, average salaries are lower: sales roles earn between €23,000 and €39,500, while marketing roles range from €26,000 to €36,500 gross per annum. Demand centres on CRM specialists, performance marketing managers, customer experience managers, technical sales representatives, and sales engineers. Eurostat data shows marketing employment at 37,200 in Q1 2026 (0.7% of total employment), a slight quarterly dip but a year-on-year increase of 1,400 jobs.
The broad sector of finance, HR, and legal services employs 488,100 people (9% of the national total), with a modest year-on-year increase of 6,800 jobs (+1.4%). Average gross annual salaries here range from €24,000 to €33,500, with demand led by controllers, reporting/statutory specialists, chartered accountants, HR analytics talent, and compliance officers.
These findings come at a time when Portugal's cost of living is a pressing political issue. The government recently unveiled a cost-of-living package that stops short of VAT cuts, while rents for one-bedroom flats now exceed the minimum wage by €200. For many Portuguese workers, the salary differentials highlighted by Randstad underscore the importance of skills in high-demand sectors.
As Portugal continues to position itself as a hub for tech and life sciences within the European single market, the Randstad study offers a clear picture of where opportunities lie – and where pay packets are fattest.
