Analytics, Employment, Latvia

The number of unemployed though was higher in 1998, because the Latvian population was larger at that time, the Employment Agency's Director Baiba Pasevica explains.\

The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in November 2007 and April 2008 – 4.8%.

The unemployment rate in Latvia increased 35% in March from end-2008, when the rate was 7%, whereas the number of vacancies decreased 85%.

As reported, the registered unemployment rate in Latvia reached 10.7% at the end of March, compared to 9.5% in February.

In March, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Tukums District (7.1%), Riga (8.2%), Jurmala (8.4%), Daugavpil (9.2%), Jelgava (9.6%), Ventspils District (9.7%), Talsi District (10.1%), Valmiera District (10.1%), Ventspils (10.2%), Jelgava District (10.3%), Limbazi District (10.5%).

The highest unemployment rates in March were registered in Rezekne District (23.1%), Ludza District (19%), Rezekne (17.8%), Balvi District (17%), Dobele District (16.7%), Preili District (16.5%), Kraslava District (15.3%), Kuldiga District (14.2%), Aizkraukle District (13.7%), Jekabpils District (13.5%), Liepaja (13%), Liepaja District (12.9%).

Most of the unemployed in March were people with vocational and secondary education, 38.4% and 28.5%, respectively, said Pasevica. 26.5% of the unemployed are 45-54 years old, 22.7% are aged 25 to 34, and 22.2% – 35 to 44.