Latvian employment rate stable at 64.0 %

Results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in Latvia 879.9 thousand people¹ aged 15–74 were employed in Q1 2024. Compared to Q4 2023, the employment rate has not changed and stayed stable at 64.0 %.

In the age group 75–89 there were 6.2 thousand employed persons (3.8 %) in Q1 2024. The statistics in this news release covers people aged 15–74 (incl.).

During the year employment rate stayed rather stable – it grew by 0.3 percentage points compared to Q1 2023. The number of employed persons went up by 2.2 thousand over the last quarter.

In Q1 2024, employment rate for men was 4.7 percentage points higher than for women – 66.4 % and 61.7 %, respectively.

Employees accounted for 86.7 % of the employed persons in Q1 2024, self-employed for 7.7 %, employers for 4.9 %, and unpaid workers in a family enterprise or private practice just for 0.7 %.

Employed population

(thousand)

Refer to the OSP database: NBL020c

Irrespective of the fact that Latvian employment rate is above the EU average (61.5 % in Q4 2023), in Q1 2024 it was the lowest among the Baltic countries (68.4 % in Estonia and 64.7 % in Lithuania).

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_ERGAED; Q1 2024 data  – OSP database table NBL020c, results of the LFS conducted in Lithuania and Estonia.

Slight increase in the number of employed youths

In Q1 2024, employment rate among young people (aged 15–24) was 30.9 %, thus being 0.1 percentage points higher than in the corresponding period a year ago. The total number of employed youths was 57.8 thousand (55.9 thousand in Q1 2023).

Employed worked 38.1 hours per week in the main job

In Q1 2024, employed persons worked on average 38.1 hours per week in the main job, which is 0.1 hours more than in the previous quarter and 0.2 hours fewer than a year ago.

One in twelve employed persons (72.2 thousand people or 8.2 %) worked part-time, which is 0.7 thousand people or 0.1 percentage points fewer than a year ago and 1.3 thousand people or 0.1 percentage points more than in the previous quarter.

5.1 % of the employed held a second job

In Q1 2024, 44.8 thousand employed persons (5.1 %) 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 4.2 thousand people or 10.3 % over the year and down by 1.0 thousand people or 2.2 % over the quarter.

Women held a second job more often than man (26.9 thousand and 18.0 thousand, respectively). Those holding a second job mainly worked 1–10 hours per week (40.2 %) and 11–20 hours per week (33.8 %).

Number of employees working remotely is growing

In Q1 2024, 11.5 % of employees (87.8 thousand) worked remotely². The number is 9.4 thousand people or 1.3 percentage points larger than a year ago (78.4 thousand or 10.2 %) and 10.2 thousand people or 1.2 percentage points larger than in the previous quarter (77.6 thousand or 10.3 %). Women accounted for 58.2 % and men for 41.8 % of those working remotely.

In terms of age, a third of the remote workers (33.6 %) was formed by people aged 15–34 (males 40.9 %, females 28.3 %), followed by those aged 35–44 (33.4 %), aged 45–54 (18.3 %), and aged 55–74 (14.7 %).

Out of all employees in the respective age group, the largest share of those working remotely (15.3 %) was observed among people aged 35–44 while the smallest (6.6 %) among those aged 55–74.

Breakdown of the data by economic activity shows that 47.1 % of the people engaged in financial and insurance activities worked remotely, followed by 46.3 % in information and communication, 23.1 % in scientific, administrative and real estate sectors (NACE Sections L–N), and 20.8 % in public administration and defence, compulsory social security. The smallest share (5.1 %) of remote workers was recorded in human health and social work activities as well as other activities in NACE Sections Q–U.

As regards occupations, 26.8 % of professionals worked remotely, followed by 21.5 % of managers, 19.5 % of technicians and associate professionals, and 16.8 % of clerical support workers.

In Q1 2024 LFS covered 5.2 thousand households in which 8.7 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 4.5 thousand households with 7.5 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