64 % of the population were employed in 2024

Results from the Latvian Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that 877.4 thousand people were employed in 2024, which represents 64.0 % of the population¹ aged 15–74. Over the year employment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points and number of employed persons by 6.8 thousand.

Among economic activities, wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, education, and construction had the steepest drop in the number of employed persons.

In Q4 2024, 867.2 thousand people aged 15–74 were employed, which is 12.9 thousand fewer than in Q3 2024. Employment rate was 63.4 %, which is 0.8 percentage points lower than in Q3 2024.

In the age group 75–89, there were 6.2 thousand employed persons in 2024 and 6.7 thousand in Q4 2024.

The statistics in this news release covers people aged 15–74 (including).

In Q4 2024, employment rate for men was 4.1 percentage points higher than for women – 65.5 % and 61.4 %, respectively.

Employees accounted for 86.3 % of the employed persons in 2024, self-employed for 7.8 %, employers for 5.0 %, and unpaid family workers (working in a family business/private practice/agricultural holding) for just 0.8 %.

Employed population

(thousand)

Refer to the OSP database: NBL20 and NBL020c

Irrespective of the fact that Latvian employment rate is above the EU average (62.0 % in Q3 2024), in Q4 2024 it was the lowest among the Baltic countries (63.4 % in Latvia, 68.5 % in Estonia, and 66.1 % in Lithuania).

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_ERGAED;

Q4 2024 data  – OSP database table NBL020c, results from the LFS conducted in Lithuania and Estonia.

29.8 % of young people were employed

Employment rate for young people (aged 15–24) was 29.8 % in 2024, thus being 0.8 percentage points lower than in 2023. The total number of employed youths was 56.2 thousand (56.3 thousand in 2023). Over the quarter, the number of employed youths reduced by 3.8 thousand (6.6 %) and was 54.3 thousand (58.2 thousand in Q3 2024). Youth employment rate fell by 2.2 percentage points and was 28.6 %.

11.2 % of employees worked remotely in Q4 2024

In Q4 2024, 11.2 % of all employees (83.9 thousand) worked remotely². The figure has gone up by 6.3 thousand people over the year (from 77.6 thousand (10.3 %)) and down by 2.7 thousand people (0.2 percentage points) over the quarter (from 86.6 thousand (11.4 %)). Women accounted for 57.6 % and men for 42.4 % of those working remotely.

Breakdown of the data by economic activity shows that information and communication as well as financial and insurance activities engaged the majority of remote workers (54.1 % and 51.7 % of all people in the corresponding economic activity, respectively). Public administration and defence; compulsory social security employed one fifth of the remote workers (19.6 %) as did scientific, administrative, and real estate activities.

In 2024, employed worked 38.1 hours per week in the main job

In 2024, employed persons worked on average 38.1 hours per week in the main job, which is the same figure as a year ago. However, in Q4 2024 those were on average 37.9 hours per week, which is 0.5 hours fewer than in Q3 2024.

In 2024, 70.0 thousand people (8.0 % of the employed) worked part-time. It is 0.5 thousand people (0.1 percentage points) more than in 2023. Women made up the largest share of those working remotely (66.0 %, compared to 34.0 % of men).

In Q4 2024, 68.9 thousand employed persons (7.9 %) worked part time, which is 0.1 thousand people (0.1 percentage points) more than in Q3 2024.

The share of second job holders made up 5 % in 2024

In 2024, 43.5 thousand employed persons held a second job, i.e., had another job in addition to their main job or did odd jobs and earned extra income. It is 0.9 thousand people (2.0 %) fewer than in 2023. The share of employed persons holding a second job did not change compared to 2023 and made up 5.0 % in 2024.

Women held a second job more often than men (23.7 thousand and 19.8 thousand, respectively). Additionally, most people holding a second job worked 1–10 hours per week (44.3 %) and 11–20 hours per week (28.0 %).

In Q4 2024, 44.2 thousand employed persons (5.1 %) held a second job, which is 5.6 thousand people (14.5 %) more than in Q3 2024 (38.7 thousand (4.4 %)).

In 2024 LFS covered 20.4 thousand households in which 34.1 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 17.7 thousand households with 29.4 thousand people aged 15–74.

In Q4 2024 LFS covered 5 thousand households in which 8.5 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 4.4 thousand households with 7.3 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. 

Media requests:
Public Relations 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