Positive evolution of employment in the cross-border Minho

To know the employment situation in the area, we used two indicators that allow us to assess the dynamics of employment in the territory.

The first is defined as the potential employment rate, and indicates whether many jobs are being created, in relation to the potentially active population of the territory. In this way, it is possible to see if the generation of employment is maintained, according to the potential of the existing activity.

Illustration 1. Rate of potential employment in the EGTC

Illustration 1 shows how the potential employment rate changed over the years 2015 to 2019 in the EGTC, increasing from 0.32 to 0.37. This fact points to an improvement in employment, although it still does not reach half of the potentially active population.

The second indicator measures the rate of employment growth, and indicates whether the evolution is positive or negative as a whole.

Illustration 2 shows the evolution of employment in the EGTC during the years 2015 to 2019. Looking at this illustration, we can see that growth rates were around 3%, except in 2019, when it dropped to 1.1%, which indicates a slowdown in job creation.

Illustration 2: Evolution of employment in the EGTC