Álvaro Fernández, who has led Michael Page Portugal since 2008, describes the current recruitment landscape as the most challenging he has seen in two decades. In a recent interview with Expresso, the veteran executive reflects on how much the market has evolved — and how difficult it has become to find talent across all sectors, not just in specialized or high-skilled areas.
“This is the first time we’re seeing such widespread hiring challenges — from entry-level roles to highly qualified positions,” Fernández stated.
Having worked at the helm of the recruitment consultancy's Portuguese operations for nearly 20 years, the Spanish-born leader highlights how today’s talent shortages cut across industries, geographies, and seniority levels. What used to be isolated to sectors like tech or engineering has now become a systemic issue in the labor market.
As companies in Portugal and beyond continue to adapt to new economic realities, changing workforce expectations, and the post-pandemic shift in employee priorities, the recruitment industry faces a new era of complexity — one that demands agility, deeper insights, and a rethinking of traditional hiring models.