This study, part of CoLABOR's editorial line "Numbers in Analysis," characterizes the evolution of employment in the Public Administration sector in Portugal, particularly in the Central Public Administration, between the years 2011 and 2022.
The analysis, based on information gathered by the DGAEP - Directorate-General for Public Administration and Employment and made available by DataLABOR - Platform for statistical data and legal information in the areas of work, employment and social protection, showed that after a period of decline and instability, employment in the Public Administration sector in Portugal has been increasing since 2018.
With a higher concentration of employment in the Central Public Administration (CPA), particularly in positions in the areas of public administration and education, science and technology, the worker profile is characterized by a concentration of female workers, over 45 years of age, with higher education and stable employment contracts.
Beyond analyzing trends, this study also highlights some challenges, such as the aging workforce and the persistence of gender inequalities in access to senior management positions—issues that should be taken into account when planning employment policies in the public sector.
