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The question that the Catholic University survey seeks to answer is: “Who worked before the crisis, how are you now?” The survey center used 1,315 surveys, with a margin of error of 2.7% with a confidence level of 95%.
In the four studies of the CESOP of the Catholic University, they are not the same people to answer. They are different samples, all of them representative of the population. The first two include non-voting residents in Portugal. The last two only include people with the right to vote.
About four out of five are now working at the same location or locations. Among them, 79% are full time and 3% part time.
Approximately 10% are teleworkers (in April it was 23%). This despite the fact that teleworking has been mandatory since November as a measure to mitigate the pandemic in municipalities at risk.
One percent are unemployed and 4% are now unemployed. Among those surveyed, 1% say they are unemployed, 1% have retired and 1% refer to another situation (such as family assistance, study).
Comparing with the surveys carried out in April, May and July, a tendency is observed towards the recovery of work activity, in the usual place, with a decrease in cases of telework, dismissals and people without activity.
The Catholic University considers that “fluctuations in unemployment can only be the result of a sampling error and may not have statistical significance.”
Work next year
As for the future, respondents who are currently working were asked how they expect to be in the next year.
The majority (51%) imagine working next year; 31% consider it unlikely to lose their job.
However, 16% consider “somewhat” or “very likely” (5%) to lose their job in the next 12 months.
Respondents who said they did not have a job were asked if they thought they would likely have a job next year.
Opinions are divided. 15% consider it “not likely”, 34% consider it “unlikely”. But for 32% it is “somewhat probable” and for 15% it is “very probable”. 4% of the respondents do not know or do not respond.
Majority with equal income
Compared to the results of previous studies, there appears to be some recovery in income for most households, with a higher percentage claiming to have the same or even higher income than before the pandemic.
Now, 69% are those who say they have the same income (in July it was 67%, in May it was 58% and in April it was 61%).
For 5% of those surveyed, their income is even higher than what they had before the pandemic (in July it was 3%, in May it was 2% and in April it was 1%).
However, 26% say their income is lower than what they earned before the crisis. A figure that has been falling: in July it was 29%, in May it was 38% and in April it was 36% who said they had lower income.
It should be noted that, among those who say they have lower income, 14% have an income equal to or less than 33% of their previous income, while for 7%, the income is half of what it was previously.
The ability to pay expenses suffers. 9% reported having difficulties paying their rent, 10% reported having difficulties paying their electricity, water and gas bills.
8% report having difficulties paying food expenses, 6% education expenses and 3% other expenses.
Holidays, only in summer
When asked when they plan to take a vacation away from home, most of those who tend to vacation abroad point to summer. 55% consider that at that time they will be able to take vacations abroad. Only 8% think of going abroad for Easter and 2% this Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
A significant number of respondents, 18%, even say they don’t plan to take an off-the-case vacation anytime soon. There is 8% who only aim for vacations in 2022.
5% consider holidays at Christmas or New Year’s Eve 2021 and 3% next fall.
Data sheet
This survey was carried out by CESOP – Universidade Católica Portuguesa for RTP and Public between December 4 and 11, 2020. The target universe is made up of voters residing in Portugal. Respondents were randomly selected from a list of landline and mobile phone numbers, also generated at random. All interviews were conducted by telephone (CATI). Respondents were informed of the purpose of the study and demonstrated their willingness to participate. 1,315 valid surveys were obtained, with 48% of respondents women, 30% from the North, 20% from the Center, 36% from Lisbon AM, 6% from Alentejo, 4% from the Algarve, 2% from Madeira and 2% of the Azores. Next, all the results obtained were weighted according to the distribution of the population by sex, age groups and region based on the electoral census and INE estimates. The response rate was 34%. The maximum margin of error associated with a random sample of 1,315 respondents is 2.7%, with a confidence level of 95%.
