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PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Lisbon, Portugal

This report was last updated on Jun 7, 2025

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

  • The Software PHP Engineer job market in Portugal, specifically in Lisbon, currently shows a strong upward trend with 125 new positions posted at peak, indicating a growing demand for skilled professionals in this sector.
  • A robust talent pool comprises approximately 1,650 registered PHP engineers in Lisbon, yet the competitive landscape reflects challenges for hiring managers due to a relatively smaller available workforce compared to the increasing number of job openings.
  • Companies are actively recruiting, with Match Profiler, Decskill, and KCS iT leading the way in job postings, showing solid demand for software PHP engineers, which is critical information for hiring managers and CTOs.
  • The median time to hire for Software PHP Engineers in Lisbon stands at 32 days, revealing a fast-paced recruitment environment that necessitates prompt hiring strategies to secure the best talent.
  • The software PHP job market is primarily concentrated in Lisbon, accounting for 62% of total job openings in Portugal, making it essential for CTOs and recruiters to focus their efforts in this key city.
Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Lisbon in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Lisbon in the last 3 months

The Software PHP Engineer job market in Portugal Lisbon has demonstrated notable fluctuations over the past 12 weeks. With a peak of 125 new positions posted in week 20, the overall trend indicates an increasing demand for PHP developers, particularly when contrasted with the 39 jobs opened in week 22. However, job closures have also escalated, peaking at 52 in the same week. This increasing gap between openings and closures highlights the urgency for effective recruitment strategies that CTOs and team leads must adopt to attract and retain talent. When compared to other roles in Portugal, the demand for Software PHP Engineers showcases a more dynamic hiring landscape, suggesting a robust opportunity for skilled professionals in this segment.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Portugal:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
Match Profiler logo Match Profiler Portugal Information Technology & Services 1999 199
Canonical logo Canonical United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2004 110
Decskill logo Decskill Portugal Information Technology & Services 2014 105
KCS iT logo KCS iT Portugal Information Technology & Services 2008 101
Adentis Portugal logo Adentis Portugal Portugal Information Technology & Services 2016 67
Ankix logo Ankix Portugal Information Technology & Services 1999 56
Synchro by egor logo Synchro by egor null Human Resources 1986 49
Alter Solutions Group logo Alter Solutions Group France Information Technology & Services 2006 47
PrimeIT logo PrimeIT Portugal Information Technology & Services 2006 47
Dellent logo Dellent Portugal Information Technology & Services 2014 45

Here are a few specialized software agencies you can trust:

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Portugal

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Portugal

The talent market for Software PHP Engineers presents varying challenges across Europe, as evidenced by the ratio of job openings to the available talent pool. In Portugal, the increasing number of job openings is juxtaposed with a relatively smaller talent pool, indicating a competitive hiring environment. In comparison, countries like Germany and the Netherlands exhibit higher ratios, suggesting a more abundant talent supply, whereas Poland also shows a growing demand. This landscape implies that hiring managers in Portugal may encounter increased difficulty in attracting skilled Software PHP Engineers, necessitating innovative recruitment strategies to secure top talent.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Lisbon

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Lisbon

In the Software PHP Engineers job market in Portugal Lisbon, the seniority distribution reveals that Mid-Senior level positions dominate with 52% of job listings, followed by Entry level roles at 25%, and Associate positions comprising 6% of the total. This trend indicates a significant demand for experienced professionals while still allowing opportunities for newcomers to enter the market.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

In the Portuguese software engineering sector, the employment type distribution reveals significant insights for hiring managers assessing the Software PHP Engineers job market trends. Full-time positions dominate the landscape, comprising 94% of the total roles available, followed by contract positions at 5% and part-time roles at 1%. Understanding this distribution is crucial for CTOs and tech leads looking to align their recruitment strategies with market realities in Lisbon's tech sector.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Portugal

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The current time to hire distribution for Software PHP Engineers in Portugal reveals critical trends for hiring managers and CTOs aiming to navigate the competitive landscape in Lisbon. The majority of candidates are recruited within 25 to 40 days, with 518 candidates hired at the 25-day mark and 301 at the 35-day mark. Notably, hiring within 15 days and 20 days sees significant activity, with 225 and 211 candidates respectively. This suggests an urgent market where quick recruitment strategies may be essential for acquiring desirable talent. As demand for Software PHP Developer opportunities grows, professionals must adapt to these timelines to strengthen their hiring effectiveness.

Most popular cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

In Portugal, the software PHP job market is predominantly concentrated in Lisbon, which accounts for 62% of the total job openings. Following Lisbon, Porto holds 18% of the opportunities, while Braga contributes 2%. This significant presence in the capital city showcases Lisbon as the pivotal hub for Software PHP Engineers in Portugal.

Most sought after technologies in Lisbon for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

In analyzing the Software PHP Engineer job market trends in Portugal, particularly in Lisbon, it is evident that PHP remains the most utilized technology, with a frequency of 2,917 mentions. Following closely are MySQL and SQL, with frequencies of 821 and 820 respectively, indicating a strong emphasis on database management skills among candidates. JavaScript, while not directly related to PHP, is also prevalent, showcasing the importance of front-end development compatibility, with a frequency of 1,521. Similarly, HTML and CSS rank high, with 711 and 589 mentions respectively, highlighting the necessity for PHP developers to possess fundamental web development competencies. For an in-depth illustration of these trends, please refer to the accompanying chart.

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