About Public Employment
Better understand public employment, its organization and the significant impact it has on society.
What is Public Employment?
Public employment refers to all functions and positions held by professionals who work in the service of the State. These workers play an indispensable role in the functioning of society, providing essential services, ensuring the execution of public policies and the well-being of the population.
Public administration professionals work in various areas, such as health, education, administration, and security forces. These workers represent a significant percentage of the workforce at national level.
5140900
Population employed at national level
746502
Population employed in Public Administration
Importance in society
The role of public employment in society is fundamental, as it reinforces the foundations for a fair and balanced society, contributing to the economic and social development of the country.
It ensures the provision of essential services for the well-being and development of a society. Without health professionals, education, security forces and other public workers, many services would not exist or would be inaccessible.
It reduces social and economic disparities by facilitating access to services such as education and health. Inclusion and diversity programs in public employment also promote a more inclusive society.
It contributes significantly to the economy by creating jobs, making it possible to mitigate unemployment rates, especially during economic crises.
Evolution of Public Employment in Portugal
The growing need to strengthen areas essential to the well-being of society has contributed to the dynamism of public employment. The digitalization and modernization of public services have created new job opportunities, requiring specialized professionals to ensure efficient and quality services.
Evolution of the number of employees in the Public Administration
Evolution of the number of employees in the Public Administration
| Year | Number of employees in the Public Administration |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 746 373 |
| 2022 | 742 162 |
| 2021 | 733 415 |
| 2020 | 718 761 |
| 2019 | 698 924 |
Year
2023
Number of employees in the Public Administration
746 373
Year
2022
Number of employees in the Public Administration
742 162
Year
2021
Number of employees in the Public Administration
733 415
Year
2020
Number of employees in the Public Administration
718 761
Year
2019
Number of employees in the Public Administration
698 924
Innovation and modernization
Global challenges require new ideas and the modernization of institutions and societies. Trends such as new technologies, digitalization, population aging, and environmental awareness require new responses, creating opportunities for more efficient solutions and increasing trust in institutions.
The Public Administration must innovate, get closer to the community and promote the active participation of citizens. To achieve these objectives, the Strategy for Innovation and Modernization of the State and Public Administration was created, based on four axes that include improving the training of workers, modernizing administrative processes and promoting technological innovation.
The 4 axis transformers
Investing in people
- Develop and train public administration workers, encouraging continuous training, career progression and the attraction of new talent.
Develop management
- Make management processes more efficient and simplified, reducing bureaucracy and increasing the effectiveness of public services.
Explore the technology
- Integrate new technologies to modernise and improve the efficiency of public services, facilitating access and offering innovative solutions, such as the digitalisation of public services and the implementation of measures to ensure data security.
Strengthening proximity
- Improve the accessibility and usability of public services, strengthening the relationship with citizens and companies, offering a closer and more appropriate service, thus promoting trust in public institutions.
The Directorate-General for Administration and Public Employment (DGAEP) is a body that supports the definition of public policies for public administration in the areas of organisation and management, employment schemes and human resources management. It ensures the information and dynamism of the measures adopted and contributes to the evaluation of their implementation.