The InfoCursos portal was updated today with details on 6,319 technical-vocational courses, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees; the data reveal a continued downward trend in unemployment among those with higher education qualifications.

Over the last decade, the percentage of recent graduates from bachelor's and integrated master's programs who were registered as unemployed with the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) has decreased, according to InfoCursos statistics from 2017 to 2026.

InfoCursos data from 2017 showed an unemployment registration rate of 7.2% for graduates of public higher education institutions and 5.4% for those from private institutions. In this year's InfoCursos data, the registration rate with the IEFP was 2.6% among graduates from both sectors.

Unemployment rate

Portugal's unemployment rate also fell significantly over the last ten years (2016–2026), dropping from around 11% to historic lows of under 6% this year.

However, the 2026 InfoCursos data reflects the situation in 2024, when the national unemployment rate was 6.2%, well above the rates observed among those with higher education.

Aligned with different studies

The figures released on 29 June align with recent studies showing that "education pays off," a point highlighted in the National Education Council's (CNE) annual report.

The CNE emphasised that the employment rate for young adults who had completed only secondary or post-secondary education was lower than that of higher education graduates, and that the latter also earned higher salaries. The 2023 report showed that workers with higher education degrees earned, on average, 73% more than those with only a secondary education.

Data released by InfoCursos show that more students are getting into their preferred degree programs and that the higher education dropout rate has declined slightly over the past decade.

Completing the degree

However, fewer than half of students complete their bachelor's or technical-vocational degree within the expected timeframe, according to data from the portal managed by the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC).

Degree programs in the field of Education show the highest completion rates within the expected timeframe (65.7%), followed by courses in health and social protection (64.1%). In contrast, programs in engineering, manufacturing, and construction show the lowest rates (33.7%).

Updated information

As of 29 June, the portal features updated information on 6,319 programs essential for students planning to enter higher education: 1,060 technical-professional higher education courses, 1,723 bachelor's and integrated master's degree programs, and 3,536 second-cycle master's programs.

InfoCursos presents a range of data, including enrollment figures from recent years, the average age of students, their status after starting the course, completion rates, and the number of recent graduates registered with the employment agency.

Applications for the first phase of the National Higher Education Access Competition for the upcoming academic year are open from 20 July to 6 August.