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

During the year, the number of job vacancies in the private sector decreased by 8.4 thousand or 39.5 %, while in the public sector it slightly increased - by 0.1 thousand or 0.7 %.

Compared to the previous quarter, the number of job vacancies increased by 3.8 % or 0.8 thousand. In the private sector the number increased by 8.3 % or 1.0 thousand, while in the public sector it decreased - by 2.9 % or 0.2 thousand.

Of all jobs available in Latvia (all together - occupied and vacant), 2.3 % were vacant, of which 2.7 % in the public sector and 2.1 % in the private sector.

In the 3rd quarter of 2020, compared to the 3rd quarter of 2019, the number of occupied posts decreased by 19.5 thousand. or 2.1 %. In the private sector it decreased by 19.2 thousand. or 3.0 %, while in the public sector - by 0.3 thousand. or 0.1 %.

Compared to the previous quarter, the number of occupied posts increased by 16.2 thousand or 1.8 %. In the private sector it increased by 12.3 thousand. or 2.1 %, but in the public sector - by 3.8 thousand. or 1.4%.

Occupied posts and vacancies by sector

Of all jobs, the highest share of job vacancies was in the basic group of skilled workers and craftsmen - 3.7 %, as well as in the basic group of plant and machinery operators - 2.5 %.

In the 3rd quarter of 2020, the demand for workers decreased in all major occupational groups, but most of all for skilled agricultural, forestry and fisheries workers, plant and machinery operators and product fitters, specialists, ordinary workers, and skilled workers and craftsmen.

In the 3rd quarter of 2020, the highest share of job vacancies was in public administration - 5.5 %, in the manufacturing sector - 3.3 %, in the health and social care sector - 3.0 %, in the transport and storage sector 2.9 %, as well as in the construction sector - 2.7 %.

Number of occupied posts and job vacancies by type of economic activity

In various regions, in the 3rd quarter of 2020, the highest share of job vacancies was in the Riga municipality - 2.8 % or 14.1 thousand, while the lowest - in the Zemgale region - 1.1 % or 0.8 thousand.

Comparing the Baltic States, in the 3rd quarter of 2020, the highest share of job vacancies (2.3 %) was in Latvia. In Lithuania and Estonia this indicator was lower - 1.4 %, but on average in the European Union - 1.7 %. During the year, the number of job vacancies decreased the most in Latvia - by 28.7 %, in Estonia - by 26.9 %, while in Lithuania it increased - by 0.8 %.

More detailed methodological explanations on the number of job vacancies and occupied posts can be found in the CSB website section “Occupied posts and job vacancies”.