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Software Developer Hiring Trends in Porto, Portugal

This report was last updated on Jun 29, 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 engineers job market in Portugal, specifically in Porto, has experienced notable fluctuations in job openings over the past 12 weeks, with a peak of 154 new positions and a recent closure of 113 roles, indicating a challenging hiring environment.
  • In Porto, full-time positions dominate the software job market, comprising 94% of roles, which underscores the preference for stable employment among software engineers.
  • The seniority distribution reveals that 48% of software engineering roles in Porto are Mid-Senior level, highlighting a strong demand for experienced professionals in the current market.
  • With Porto contributing to 20% of the total job openings in Portugal, the city stands as a key player, second only to Lisbon, which holds 68% of the market share, indicating ample software developer opportunities in the region.
  • Hire timelines for software engineers in Porto average around 31 days, making it essential for hiring managers to streamline their recruitment strategies to match the competitive market demands.
Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in Porto in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in Porto in the last 3 months

In the last 12 weeks, the software job market in Portugal Porto has exhibited notable fluctuations in job openings for Software Developer roles. The peak occurred in week 14 with 154 new positions, while week 25 saw a drastic reduction to just 14 jobs. Concurrently, the weekly closures have escalated, culminating in a significant closure of 113 positions in the most recent week. This trend highlights a challenging environment for hiring managers in Porto, where the number of closed roles consistently outpaced new openings, contrasting with other European markets that may show a more stable recruitment landscape. For CTOs and recruiters, understanding these trends in hiring Senior Software Developers is crucial for formulating effective recruitment strategies tailored to the unique dynamics of Porto's tech sector.

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 119
KCS iT logo KCS iT Portugal Information Technology & Services 2008 103
Decskill logo Decskill Portugal Information Technology & Services 2014 89
Canonical logo Canonical United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2004 87
Adentis Portugal logo Adentis Portugal Portugal Information Technology & Services 2016 53
Ankix logo Ankix Portugal Information Technology & Services 1999 42
PrimeIT logo PrimeIT Portugal Information Technology & Services 2006 35
vendinGO logo vendinGO Portugal Food & Beverages 2020 35
Inetum logo Inetum France Information Technology & Services 1970 34
Dellent logo Dellent Portugal Information Technology & Services 2014 34

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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 software engineers job market trends in Portugal, particularly in Porto, reveal a competitive landscape when compared to other European nations. With data indicating a count of job openings that surpasses the size of the available talent pool, the ratio of talent availability is tighter than in countries like Germany and the Netherlands, where the job-to-talent ratio leans more favorably towards hiring managers. While Portugal's demand for software engineers continues to grow, positioning it as a hub for software development opportunities, the recruitment landscape indicates potential challenges for CTOs and engineering managers seeking to fill roles efficiently. The future demand for senior software developers in Portugal Porto underscores the need for innovative recruitment strategies to attract talent in this tightening market.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Porto

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Porto

The seniority distribution of Software Engineering jobs in Portugal Porto reveals a clear market structure, with 48% of positions categorized as Mid-Senior level, indicating a strong demand for experienced professionals. Entry-level roles account for 24% of the job market, catering to new talent entering the field. Additionally, Associate positions comprise 4% of the available jobs, highlighting a niche but important segment within the local tech landscape.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Portugal

In the current software engineers job market trends in Portugal, particularly in Porto, full-time positions dominate with a significant 94% of roles being full-time. Contract roles account for approximately 5%, while part-time positions make up about 2%. This employment type distribution highlights the strong preference for full-time engagement among software engineers, indicating a pivotal consideration for hiring managers focusing on the software job market in Portugal Porto.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Portugal

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The data indicates a significant diversity in the time to hire for Software positions within Portugal, with a particular focus on the Porto region. Notably, 888 candidates were hired within a timeframe of 25 days, followed closely by 853 candidates at 30 days, reflecting a general trend where the majority of hires occur within a 35-day window. The peak hiring period falls between 15 to 30 days, suggesting a preference for efficiency in recruitment processes. As hiring managers in the tech industry navigate the competitive landscape, understanding these timeframes is critical to developing effective recruitment strategies, ultimately influencing the future demand for Software Engineers in Portugal and particularly Porto.

Most popular cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Portugal to hire Software Engineers

In the current software engineers job market in Portugal, Lisbon leads significantly with 68% of the total job openings, accounting for 4,618 positions. Porto follows with a substantial share of 20%, representing 1,350 job opportunities. Other notable cities include Braga and Lisboa, which contribute 5% and 3% respectively to the overall market, highlighting Porto's critical role within the software job market in Portugal.

Most sought after technologies in Porto for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

The software job market in Portugal, particularly in Porto, is characterized by the prevalence of several key technologies. Data indicates that Java stands at the forefront with a frequency of 9,331 occurrences, followed closely by JavaScript at 7,417. Python is also significant, with its usage reported at 8,209 times. Additionally, C# and TypeScript are important players, with frequencies of 5,459 and 4,442, respectively. This trend highlights the demand for skilled professionals proficient in these technologies, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

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