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In the 3^rd quarter of 2014 the unemployment rate (the share of unemployed persons) in the total number of economically active population was 10.6%. During the year this indicator decreased by 1.2 percentage points (in the 3^rd quarter of 2013 – 11.8%), and compared to the previous quarter – by 0.1 percentage point (in the 2^nd quarter of 2014 – 10.7%). The share of unemployed persons aged 15 – 24 in the total number of economically active youth amounted to 21.4%, which is 6.2 percentage points less than a year ago (27.6%) and 0.3 percentage points more than in the previous quarter (21.1%).

Unemployment rate in the Baltic States and in the European Union, in %

Data source: Eurostat database, for data on the 3^rd quarter of 2014 – Labour Force Survey in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The number of young unemployed persons aged 15 – 24 over the year decreased by 30.5%. Compared to the previous quarter their number in the 3^rd quarter of 2014 increased by 6.3%. One third (33%) of people belonging to this age group are employed, and together with the unemployed (9%) form the total number of economically active youth. More than a half (58%) of young people aged 15 – 24 are economically inactive, and a great share of them are still studying and not seeking a job.

Youth (aged 15 – 24) unemployment rate in the Baltic States and in the European Union, in %

Data source: Eurostat database, for data on the 3^rd quarter of 2014 – Labour Force Survey in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The number of the long-term unemployed over the year decreased by 1.8 percentage points. In the the 3^rd quarter of 2014, 44.6 thsd persons or 42.7% of the unemployed had been seeking a job for 12 or more months. Compared to the previous quarter their share has increased by 2.5 percentage points.

Share of the long-term unemployed in the Baltic States and in the European Union, in %

Data source: Eurostat database, for data on the 3^rd quarter of 2014 – Labour Force Survey in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

In the third quarter of 2014, there were 502 thsd economically inactive persons aged 15 to 74, which is one third (33.6%) of the population of this age group. Compared to the corresponding period of the previous year this share has increased by 0.5 percentage points (in the 3^rd quarter of 2013 – 33.1%), but has not changed compared to the previous quarter.

The results of the survey show that the number of discouraged persons in the third quarter of 2014 accounted for 26.7 thsd persons or 5.3% of the economically inactive population. A year ago the share of such persons was 6.6%, and in the 2^nd quarter of 2014 – 4.8%.

Within the framework of the Labour Force Survey 4.7 thsd households were surveyed in the 3^rd quarter of 2014, interviewing 7.8 thsd persons aged 15 –74.

More information on the Labour Force Survey results and methodology is available in the section Employment and Unemployment.

For the methodology of the Labour Force Survey visit the section Methodology.