The number of beneficiaries of unemployment benefits increased 40,9% in December compared to the same month of 2019 and rose 5,7% compared to the previous month to a total of 241.324, indicate the monthly Social Security statistics.
According to the data, released today, the unemployment benefit covered 205.303 beneficiaries, increasing 42,8% year on year and 5,8% compared to the universe of beneficiaries registered in November.
The initial unemployment social allowance (aimed at people who do not have the conditions to receive unemployment benefit) covered 10 285 unemployed, constituting increases of 51,5% and 5,8% and in relation to the same month and the previous month , respectively.
In turn, the subsequent social unemployment benefit (attributed to those who have already exhausted the unemployment benefit) increased in December by 30,4% year-on-year and 7,6% compared to the previous month, covering 25.865 beneficiaries.
“By age and compared to December 2019, there are still increases in benefits processed in all age groups, particularly in the younger groups: the group aged 24 or less (98,7%), between 25 and 34 years old (72,4%), between 35 and 44 years old (45,7%), and between 45 and 54 years old (34,1%) ”, says the statistical summary prepared by the Strategy and Planning (GEP) of the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, which points out that these data do not include extensions of unemployment benefits.
The average amount of subsidy processed per beneficiary in December was 502,47 euros, similar to that seen in July and slightly above the previous four months.
The data also released today by the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) indicate that December registered a year-on-year increase of 29,6% in the number of unemployed registered in employment centers and an increase of 1,0% compared to November.
According to the IEFP, at the end of December, 402.254 unemployed were registered with the employment services of the continent and autonomous regions. This figure represents 69% of a total of 582.926 job applications.
In December, registered unemployment increased in all regions, with emphasis on the Algarve (60,8%) and Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (41,1%).
