After digging into Teamlyzer data and tracking global tech signals, the outlook for Portugal’s IT market in 2026 is clear: sharper contrasts, higher pressure, and less room for mediocrity.
Salaries will keep growing (around 7–8%), but unevenly. AI, automation, and emerging tech skills will push wages up by double digits, while traditional web development continues to slide. The gap between “future-proof” profiles and the rest will widen fast.
For juniors, the door is barely open. Seniors now rely on AI to handle tasks once used for training newcomers, leaving fewer entry-level roles and less mentoring. Bootcamps are losing shine, while classic engineering backgrounds regain value.
Hiring will be increasingly automated, with algorithms screening CVs and interviews before humans step in. Productivity will dominate management agendas, layoffs are likely to continue, and fully remote work will keep shrinking.
Still, Portugal remains attractive: lower costs, strong talent, and a steady flow of new tech hubs. The market isn’t collapsing — it’s hardening.
Your move depends on how well you adapt.
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