The Portuguese labour market has been severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper analysis the main (un)employment impacts of the “first wave” of the pandemic and pinpoints the economic activities, social categories and territories that were most affected by it. Although unemployment figures are still quite bellow the ones reached in the previous crisis, it has been growing quite rapidly. The youth, workers that have intermediate levels of qualification and temporary employees were the most affected, namely those who work in tourism related activities and in sectors more exposed to international trade, such as the automobile and footwear sectors. Unemployment grew at a faster pace in Algarve.
Keywords: labour market; unemployment; layoff; COVID-19 pandemic; Portugal
