12 % of young people in Latvia aged 15–29 are neither in employment nor in education and training

Results of the Labour Force Survey of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in 2020, 33.2 thousand (11.9 %) young people aged 15–29 in Latvia were neither in employment nor in education and training.

Although the share of this group of young people has decreased in recent years, last year during the pandemic, when restrictions were imposed in Latvia to reduce the spread of the virus and the unemployment rate increased, the number of young people neither in employment nor in education and training increased from 10.3 % in 2019 to 11.9 % in 2020.

The impact of changes in the labour market is observed among young people aged 25-29, compared to young people aged 15-24, many of whom are still in education.

Young people living in urban areas are more exposed to the effects of a pandemic

Comparing young people in urban and rural areas, it can be observed that the restrictions have more affected young people living in cities and towns. In 2020, the number of young people in urban areas, aged 15–24, who are neither in employment nor in education and training increased by 5.6 % (7.1 thousand in 2019, 7.5 thousand in 2020), while in rural areas it continued to decrease (6.4 thousand, 4.5 thousand respectively). The number of young people in the age group 25-29, who are neither in employment nor in education and training, has increased in urban areas by as much as 56 % (8.4 thousand in 2019, 13.1 thousand in 2020), while in rural areas it has increased slightly (by 2.6%; that is 7.8 thousand, 8 thousand respectively).

Females aged 25-29 are more likely to be out of the labour market and education and training

There is no significant difference between females and males aged 15-24 who are neither in employment nor in education and training (females by 0.2 percentage points more). The differences are slightly more significant in the 25-29 age group - the share of females who are neither in employment nor in education and training was 2.9 percentage points higher last year, but the gender gap has been narrowing over the last four years. 

Results of the Labour Force Survey show that significant differences in employment rates appear in households where the youngest child is under the age of six, with females significantly less likely to enter the labour market and taking childcare responsibilities at home, while males have higher employment rates.

In 2020, the average age of a female at the birth of her first child was 27.3 years. The gender disproportion in the distribution of childcare responsibilities is also revealed by the number of recipients of childcare benefits: in 2020, 83.4 % of the recipients were females and 16.6 % were males.

Statistics on young people are compiled according to the data of the CSB Labour Force Survey, where a young person who is neither in employment nor in education and training (NEET -  neither in employment nor in education and training) is considered to be a person who is not working (unemployed or economically inactive) and is not involved in education or training. The share of young people is limited to the number of such young people who have a certain educational status.

These data will be presented on October 7 at the International Conference in Balvi ("NEET youth situation in Latvia – different angles").

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on data:
Zaiga Priede
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail: Zaiga.Priede@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366886