Analytics, Employment, Labour-market, Latvia

The registered unemployment level in Latvia increased by 0.1% to 8.3% of the economically active population.

State Employment Agency Director Inese Kalvane said that a slight increase in the unemployment level is usually observed around this time of year, as seasonal employment comes to an end.

A total of 79,183 unemployed persons were registered at the State Employment Agency at the beginning of November; at the end of the month – 79,869. Meanwhile, 3,808 persons managed to find a regular job during the month.

The lowest unemployment rate in November was registered in Riga Region – 5.2%, the highest – 17.6% – in Latgale province. The unemployment rate in Kurzeme was 10% in November, in Vidzeme – 9.6%, in Zemgale – 8%.

Among the cities, Riga recorded the lowest unemployment rate – 4.9%, followed by Jurmala – 5.8%, Jelgava – 6.3%, Valmiera – 6.6%, Ventspils – 7.4%, Jekabpils – 8.9%, Daugavpils – 9.1%, Liepaja – 11.9%, and Rezekne – 15.2%.

The State Employment Agency currently offers 5,451 job openings. The most popular ones are for truck drivers, cooks, salespersons, fish processors, cashiers, tailors, ship mechanics, auxiliary workers, and manual metal arc welders. The highest demand is still for various kinds of IT specialists.