Actually, the Algarve was the only region in Portugal to register positive results precisely because of the seasonal cycle that sees the creation of a large number of temp jobs directly connected to the tourism sector.

According to data from the Institute of Employment and Professional Training – IEFP – the month of July saw 25,928 unemployed individuals in the region, representing a 6.9% and a 1.4% drop when compared to June 2013 and July 2012.

The region is enjoying an overall tourism boom this summer season with information from the Association of Hotels and Resorts of the Algarve – AHETA – reporting occupancy rate per room in July was 81,6% which means a 3.7% increase when compared with the same month in 2012.

The data from the IEFT also shows a large increase in the number of individuals searching for their first job. These individuals number 58,722 now, indicating a 17.5% and 2.9% hike when compared with the same period in 2012 and June this year, respectively.

When it comes to those individuals who have lost their jobs in the past year and are now looking for work, there’s been a 4% increase in July compared to 2012, but a 0.6% decrease in relation to June. These individuals make up 629,377 of the jobless population.

The bane of the population still continues to be long-term unemployment. The data from this point is not very optimistic, recording a 1.1% increase in July compared to June and a 27.1% rise when compared to July of 2012. Long-term unemployment means being out of a job for more than 12 months and almost half the people signed up at job centres are affected by it.

Overall the country’s unemployment rate was down to 16.4% in the second quarter of 2013, from 17.5% in the first quarter.

It turns out however, that the Algarve peak season tourism numbers have met the expectations of the local Algarve Hotels and Resorts Association, in fact they were slightly larger than the numbers in the same period of 2011.

The occupancy rate for August reached 90.7%, despite the many economic issues that have been hitting the region over the past year, including increased IVA rates, the rather controversial introduction of tolls on the A22 – which created a number of difficulties for those travelers who didn’t have a Portuguese plated car – the overcrowded EN125 as well as the overall Euro crisis.

As said earlier, despite all of these economic woes, attendance actually saw a substantial increase during August, seeing a 17.3% increase in Dutch tourists, 16.1% British, 15.7% German and 4.6% Irish. It should be noted that these increases came at a great time in order to counterbalance the rather significant decrease in the number of Spanish visitors – 29.1% actually – and the domestic Portuguese market decreased as well, by 6.3%. The domestic and Spanish decrease doesn’t come as a surprise though, as this was a natural consequence of the economic issues that both countries are facing, especially the austerity measures in Portugal.

We have to mention that the slight increase in occupancy rate that we’re referring to is of only 0.1%, but considering all the things that should’ve stopped them for even reaching last year’s rate, it shouldn’t be neglected. It is believed that the occupancy rate was helped by all-inclusive holiday packages and accommodation, which come with reduced prices overall. Interestingly enough, the year on year revenue of the region to increase by 4.3%.

Of course some regions saw an increase in occupancy while others saw decreases, in the first category you’ll find Lagos, Sagres, Vilamoura, Quarteira and Quinta do Lago, and in the second Carvoeiro, Armacao de Pera, Monte Gordo and Villa Real de Santo Antonio.