Analytics, Employment, Labour-market, Latvia, Markets and Companies

At the end of the first half of 2017, there were 17.6 thousand job vacancies in Latvia; compared to the end of the corresponding period a year ago, the number thereof has grown by 2.3 thousand.  At the end of the first half of 2017, the number of job vacancies constituted 6.1 thousand in public sector and 11.4 thousand in private sector.  Out of the total number of jobs in the country, 1.9% were vacant, 2.1% of which in public sector and 1.8% in private sector. The highest job vacancy rate was recorded among craft and related trades workers (2.7%) and among technicians and associate professionals (2.2%).

Occupied posts and job vacancies by sector

Over the year, the number of occupied posts amongst craft and related trades workers grew by 5.6%, among plant and machine operators and assemblers by 3.7%, among elementary occupations by 2.7%, among technicians and associate professionals by 2.5%, among managers by 2.1%, and among professionals by 0.9%. Reduction, in its turn, was observed in the number of skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (of 19.0%), service and sales workers (4.7%), as well as clerical support workers (of 1.3%).

The most notable increase in the number of occupied posts was recorded in information and communication sector (of 6.0% or 1.8 thousand), construction (5.2% or 2.9 thousand), public administration and defence (3.1% or 2.0 thousand), accommodation and food service activities (2.9% or 1.0 thousand), and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (1.9% or 0.2 thousand). The sharpest reduction in the number of occupied posts, in turn, was registered in other service activities (of 3.8% or 0.6 thousand), wholesale and retail trade (1.1% or 1.6 thousand), real estate activities (0.9% or 0.3 thousand), and professional, scientific and technical activities (0.6% or 0.2 thousand).

At the end of the 2^nd quarter of 2017, the highest job vacancy rate was recorded in public administration and defence (4.7%), transportation and storage (2.3%), mining and quarrying, construction and human health and social work activities (2.2% in each of the three sectors).

Among the regions of Latvia, the highest job vacancy rate was observed in Riga (2.4% or 12.3 thousand of all jobs in the regions), whereas the lowest – in Kurzeme (0.9% or 0.7 thousand).

Job vacancies and occupied posts by main kind of economic activity

Absolute changes and percentage changes are calculated from the data not converted into thousands.

More information on occupied posts and job vacancies in Latvia is available in the CSB website section Occupied Posts and Job Vacancies, Paid Working Hours – Key Indicators. Statistics on occupied posts and job vacancies in 2016 and 2nd quarter of 2017 are published in the database section Occupied Posts and Job Vacancies, Paid Working Hours (Short term statistical data and Annual statistical data).

Methodological explanations

In accordance with the survey methodology, job vacancy is defined as a post, for which no contract has been signed and no candidate chosen, and the employer is taking active steps to find a suitable candidate from outside the enterprise, and which will be filled immediately or within the nearest time. The job vacancy rate is calculated in per cent, by dividing the number of job vacancies by the total number of posts (occupied + vacant).

Data on occupied posts and job vacancies are acquired from the quarterly statistical reports on the activities of businesses, individual merchants, state and local government budgetary institutions, foundations, associations and funds, as well as from administrative data sources. Only those peasant and fisherman farms employing 50 and more employees are included.

Private sector includes commercial companies with central or local government capital participation of up to 50%, commercial companies of all types without central or local government capital participation, individual merchants, and agricultural holdings and fishermen farms employing with 50 and more persons.

Public sector includes central and local government institutions and commercial companies with central or local government capital participation 50% and more, public organisations and commercial companies thereof.