Pandemic has resulted in smaller pay gap

Provisional estimate of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) shows that in 2021 the average hourly gross earnings of females were 14.6 % lower than those of males. Compared to the year before the unadjusted gender pay gap has shrank by 7.7 percentage points.

In line with the European Union methodology the indicator is estimated based on the results of the Structure of Earnings Survey conducted once in four years (the last one on 2018). In years when the survey is not conducted, a provisional indicator is calculated using the data on the 1^st quarter of the year (January–March) submitted in statistical report on labour.

In the 1^st quarter of 2021, compared to the 1^st quarter of 2020, restrictions to the business activity and state support measures imposed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 pandemic had greater effect on employment and earnings of females. The number of female employees earning less dropped sharper than that of male employees, and the number of women among employees earning more grew faster than number of men. Government support in the form of idle time benefits covered the greatest number of employed persons in the 1^st quarter of 2021, compared to other periods of COVID-19 restrictions, wage subsidies were paid thus having notable influence on the gender pay gap. In some sectors of national economy, e.g., health care, increase was observed in both workload and remuneration.

The gap in earnings of males and females is affected by various social and economic factors – the number of males and females in a specific economic activity, their occupation and work duties, educational attainment, age, service increment, number of hours worked, etc. The indicator is calculated without excluding the effect of these factors, which might explain the reasons for the gap.

In 2021 the largest gender pay gap was observed in information and communication sector where hourly earnings of males were on average 31.1 % higher than those of females.

In terms of sectoral breakdown, gender pay gap was similar in both private and public sector – 15.5 % and 15.6 %, respectively.

In 2021, the smallest gender gap in hourly earnings was recorded in the age group under 25 (8.4 %) and among people aged 65 and over (9.3 %), while the largest in age group 35–44 (22.3 %, with earnings of males predominating) and age group 25–34 (19.1 %).

Unadjusted gender pay gap by age group

 (per cent)

Females in the EU on average earn 13.0 % less than males

In 2020, the EU average unadjusted gender pay gap constituted 13.0 %. The largest gap was recorded in Latvia (22.3 %) and Estonia (21.1 %).

*  Ireland and Greece – data of 2018.

Reference metadata which describe processing, availability and quality of hourly and monthly gender pay gap statistics from different aspects are available in official statistics portal metadata sections Gender pay gap, hourly earnings and Gender pay gap, monthly gross.

Methodological explanations

Unadjusted gender pay gap is one of the EU sustainable development indicators calculated based on the Eurostat methodology and used for international comparisons. The indicator is used to monitor progress towards the gender equality.

CSB is publishing also gender pay gap that is an indicator used for annual comparisons of earnings received by both genders in Latvia. This indicator differs from the unadjusted gender pay gap in terms of both calculation methodology and target population.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366989, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Lija Luste
Wages Statistics Section
E-mail: Lija.Luste@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366917