Analytics, Employment, Latvia, Statistics

In the 2^nd quarter, in Latvia there were 75.4 thousand unemployed persons aged 15–74 (incl.), which is 11.2 thousand people fewer than a year ago and 4.6 thousand fewer than in the previous quarter.

Since the 3^rd quarter of 2008, Latvian unemployment rate exceeds the European Union (EU) average (except for the 1^st quarter of 2015 when both indicators were equal). In the 1^st quarter of 2018, Latvian unemployment rate (constituting 8.2%) exceeded the EU average (7.4%) by 0.8 percentage points. In the 2^nd quarter of 2018, Latvia still had the highest unemployment rate in the Baltic states – 7.7%, compared to 5.1% in Estonia and 5.9% in Lithuania.

Long-term unemployed persons

In the 2^nd quarter of 2018, the share of long-term unemployed persons, i.e., those who have been without work for 12 months or longer, in the total number of unemployed persons grew – from 39.4% in the 2^nd quarter of 2017 to 41.3% in the 2^nd quarter of 2018. The number of long-term unemployed persons reduced by 2.9 thousand, constituting 31.1 thousand.

Youth unemployment

In the 2^nd quarter of 2018, youth unemployment rate constituted 11.2%, which is 5.3 percentage points lower than a year ago and 3.5 percentage points lower than in the 1^st quarter of 2018. During the year, the number of young unemployed persons fell by 5.3 thousand, whereas over the quarter by 2 thousand.

In the 2^nd quarter, 7.5 thousand people or 9.9% of all unemployed persons were young people aged 15–24. Over the year, their share in the total number of unemployed persons fell by 4.8 percentage points, whereas compared to the 1st quarter by 1.9 percentage points.

In the 2^nd quarter, 38.1% of all young people were active, i.e., employed or actively seeking a job (unemployed), while 61.9% of young people were inactive (mainly studying and not seeking a job).

Inactive population

In the 2^nd quarter of 2018, 30.3% or 428 thousand people aged 15–74 were inactive. i.e., were neither employed nor actively seeking a job. Compared to the 1st quarter, inactive population declined by 7.6 thousand people or 1.7%, whereas compared to the 2nd quarter of 2017 it fell by 19.1 thousand people or 4.3%.

In the 2^nd quarter, 11 thousand people or 2.6% of the inactive population were discouraged to find a job (compared to 3.7 % in the 2^nd quarter of 2017 and 3.1 % in the 1^st quarter of 2018).

In the 2^nd quarter of 2018, Labour Force Survey questions about economic activity were asked to 7 thousand people aged 15–74 living in 4 thousand households.