64.2 % of the population were employed in 2023

Results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in Latvia 884.2 thousand people or 64.2 % of the population¹ aged 15–74 were employed in 2023.

Over the year employment rate grew by 0.3 percentage points and number of employed persons reduced by 2.0 thousand. The greatest decline in the number of employed persons was registered in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; public administration and defence; compulsory social security as well as manufacturing.

In Q4 2023, 877.7 thousand people aged 15–74 were employed in Latvia, which is 13.2 thousand fewer than in Q3 2023. The employment rate was 64.0 %, which is 0.7 percentage points lower than in Q3 2023.

In 2023 there were 5.7 thousand employed persons in the age group 75–89 (6.3 thousand in Q4 2023). The statistics in this news release covers the people aged 15–74 (incl.).

In Q4 2023 the employment rate among men was 5.0 percentage points higher than among women (66.6 % and 61.6 %, respectively).

Employed population

(thousand)

Refer to the OSP database: NBL020 and NBL020c

Irrespective of the fact that Latvian employment rate has been above the EU average for the past 11 years (61.6 % in Q3 2023), in Q4 2023 it was the lowest among the Baltic countries (69.1 % in Estonia and 65.7 % in Lithuania).

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_ERGAED; Q4 2023 data: OSP database table NBL020c, results from the LFS conducted in Lithuania and Estonia.

30.6 % of young people were employed in 2023

In 2023 the youth (aged 15–24) employment rate was 30.6 % and it has not changed over the year. A total of 56.3 thousand young people were employed in 2023 (54.6 thousand in 2022).

In Q4 2023 there were 54.6 thousand employed youths, which is 5.3 thousand or 8.8 % fewer than in Q3 2023 (59.9 thousand in Q3 2023). Youth employment fell by 3.1 percentage points and was 29.3 %.

Employed worked 0.3 hours per week fewer in the main job

In 2023 employed persons worked on average 38.1 hours per week in the main job, which is 0.3 hours fewer than in 2022. In Q4 2023 employed worked on average 38.0 hours per week, which is 0.6 hours fewer than in Q3 2023.

In 2023, 69.6 thousand people or 7.9 % of all employed persons worked part-time, which is 3.2 thousand people or 0.4 percentage points more than in 2022. Women made 65.1 % and men 34.9 % of all part-time workers.

In Q4 2023, one in a twelve employed worked part-time (70.9 thousand people or 8.1 %), which is 1.5 thousand people or 0.3 percentage points more than in Q3 2023.

Larger proportion of those holding a second job

In 2023, 44.3 thousand employed persons (5.0 %) held a second job, i.e., had another job in addition to their main job or did odd jobs and earned extra income. The figure has gone up by 7.6 thousand people or 20.7 % over the year. Women held a second job more often than man (24.3 thousand and 20.0 thousand, respectively).

Those holding a second job the most often worked 1–10 hours per week (42.1 %) and 11–20 hours per week (28.6 %).

In Q4 2023, 45.8 thousand employed persons (5.2 %) held a second job, which is 1.9 thousand or 4.3 % more than in Q3 2023 (43.9 thousand or 4.9 %).

10.3 % of employees worked remotely in Q4 2023

In Q4 2023, 10.3 % of employees (77.6 thousand) worked remotely². The number is 10.1 thousand people or 1.0 percentage points smaller than a year ago (87.7 thousand or 11.3 %) and 9.3 thousand people or 1.0 percentage points smaller than in the previous quarter (86.9 thousand or 11.3 %). Women accounted for 58.4 % and men for 41.6 % of those working remotely.

In terms of age, slightly more than a third of remote workers (36.0 %) was formed by people aged 15–34 (males 44.8 %, females 29.7 %), followed by those aged 35–44 (29.8 %), aged 45–54 (18.6 %), and finally the people aged 55–74 (15.7 %). In addition, out of all employees in the respective age group, the largest share of those working remotely (13.9 %) was observed among people aged 15–34 while smallest (6.3 %) among those aged 55–74.

Breakdown of the data by economic activity shows that 52.5 % of the people engaged in information and communication worked remotely, followed by 47.1 % in financial and insurance activities, 21.7 % in public administration and defence, compulsory social security, and 19.8 % in scientific, administrative and real estate sectors (NACE Sections L–N). The smallest share (3.7 %) of remote workers was recorded in human health and social work activities and other economic activities (NACE Sections Q–U).

As regards occupations, 25.5 % of professionals worked remotely, followed by 19.3 % of managers, 18.0 % of technicians and associate professionals, and 14.7 % of clerical support workers.

In 2023 LFS covered 20.3 thousand households in which 34.2 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 17.5 thousand households with 29.5 thousand people aged 15–74. In Q4 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 refers to 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