64.4 % of the population were employed in Q2 2023

Results of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in Latvia 887.6 thousand people or 64.4 % of the population¹ aged 15–74 were employed in Q2 2023.

In the age group 75–89 there were 5.0 thousand employed persons in Q2 2023. The statistics in this news release covers people aged 15–74 (incl.).

Over the year employment rate grew by 0.4 percentage points and number of employed persons by 2.4 thousand while over the quarter employment rate went up by 0.7 percentage points and number of employed persons by 7.2 thousand.

In Q2 2023 employment rate among men was 5.6 percentage points higher than among women – 67.3 % and 61.7 %, respectively.

Employed population

(thousand)

Refer to the OSP database: NBL020c

Irrespective of the fact that Latvian employment rate has been above the EU average (60.9 % in Q1 2023) since Q3 2012, in Q2 2023 it was the lowest among the Baltic countries (69.2 % in Estonia and 66.1 % in Lithuania).

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_ERGAED, data on Q2 2023 – OSP database NBL020c, results of the LFS conducted in Lithuania and Estonia.

Youth employment rate gone down

In Q2 2023, employment rate among young people (aged 15–24) constituted 30.0 %, thus being 1.6 percentage points lower than in the corresponding period a year ago. While the total number of employed youth was 54.9 thousand (56.0 thousand in Q2 2022).

Employed worked 37.4 hours per week in the main job

In Q2 2023, employed worked on average 37.4 hours per week in the main job, which is 0.9 hours fewer than in the previous quarter and 0.8 hours fewer than a year ago.

One in fourteen employed persons (65.0 thousand people or 7.3 %) worked part-time, which is 3.0 thousand people or 0.3 percentage points more than a year ago and 7.9 thousand people or 1.0 percentage points fewer than in the previous quarter.

Higher proportion of people having second job

In Q2 2023, 47.1 thousand employed persons (5.3 %) held a second job, i.e., had another job in addition to their main job or did odd jobs and earned extra income. The number has gone up by 10.9 thousand people or 30.1 % over the year and by 6.5 thousand people or 16.0 % over the quarter. Women had a second job more often than man (27.4 thousand and 19.7 thousand, respectively). Those holding a second job the most often worked 1–10 hours per week (42.2 %) and 11–20 hours per week (32.2 %).

10.5 % of employees worked remotely in Q2 2023

In Q2 2023, 10.5 % of employees (80.7 thousand) worked remotely². The number is 2.9 thousand people or 0.5 percentage points smaller than a year ago (83.6 thousand or 11.0 %) and 2.3 thousand people or 0.3 percentage points higher than in the previous quarter (78.4 thousand or 10.2 %). Women accounted for 59.8 % and men for 40.2 % of those working remotely.

In terms of age, more than a third of remote workers (36.1 %) was formed by people aged 35–44 (males 35.9 %, females 36.3 %), followed by those aged 15–34 (32.9 %), aged 45–54 (18.8 %), and aged 55–74 (12.1 %). Whereas out of all employees in the respective age group, the largest share of those working remotely (15.4 %) was observed among people aged 35–44 while smallest (4.9 %) among those aged 55–74.

Breakdown of the data by economic activity shows that 54.3 % of the people engaged in information and communication worked remotely, followed by 44.0 % in financial and insurance activities, 20.3 % in scientific, administrative and real estate sectors (NACE Sections L–N), and slightly less – 17.8 % – in public administration and defence, compulsory social security. The smallest share (4.0 %) of remote workers was recorded in human health and social work activities as well as other economic activities (Q–U).

As regards occupations, 26.1 % of professionals worked remotely, followed by 24.0 % of managers, 15.4 % of technicians and associate professionals, and 12.5 % of clerical support workers.

In Q2 2023 LFS covered 5.1 thousand households in which 8.6 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 4.4 thousand households with 7.4 thousand people aged 15–74.

Methodological information

¹ LFS results are extrapolated to the population that includes citizens of Ukraine who have received temporary protection in Latvia and live in private households.

² Remote work – an alternative work arrangement in which employed person performs all official duties at an approved alternative worksite away from the employers’ main workplace, including by using information and communication technologies. 

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

More information on data:
Sandra Ceriņa
Social Statistics Data Compilation and Analysis Section
E-mail: Sandra.Cerina@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366653