63.2 % of the population were employed in Q1 2025

Results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in Latvia 868.0 thousand people, or 63.2 % of the population¹ aged 15–74, were employed in Q1 2025.

Over the year employment rate fell by 0.8 percentage points and number of employed persons by 11.9 thousand, whereas over the quarter the rate reduced by 0.2 percentage points and the number of employed persons increased by 0.8 thousand.

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

In Q1 2025, employment rate for men was 5.2 percentage points higher than for women – 65.9 % and 60.7 %, respectively.

Employed population

(thousand)

Refer to the OSP database: NBL020c

Employees accounted for 86.4 % of the employed persons, self-employed for 8.1 %, employers for 5.0 %, and unpaid family workers (working in a family business / private practice / agricultural holding) just for 0.5 %.

Latvian employment rate was above the EU average (61.8 % in Q4 2024). In Estonia it was 67.4 % and in Lithuania 65.3 % in Q1 2025.

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_ERGAED;

Q1 2025 data  – OSP database table NBL020c, results from the LFS conducted in Lithuania and Estonia.

Youth employment rate has reduced

In Q1 2025, employment rate for young people (aged 15–24) was 28.1 %, thus being 2.8 percentage points lower than in the corresponding period a year ago. The total number of employed youths made up 52.3 thousand (57.8 thousand in Q1 2024).

Employed persons worked 37.4 hours per week in the main job

In Q1 2025, employed persons worked on average 37.4 hours per week in the main job, which is 0.5 hours fewer than in the previous quarter and 0.6 hours fewer than a year ago. The figure for men was higher than for women – on average, 38.0 and 36.8 hours per week respectively.

One in twelve employed persons (75.4 thousand people, or 8.7 %) worked part-time, which is 3.2 thousand people (0.5 percentage points) more than a year ago and 6.5 thousand people (0.7 percentage points) more than in the previous quarter.

Increasingly more people hold a second job

In Q1 2025, 51.8 thousand employed persons (6.0 %) held a second job, i.e., had another job in addition to their main job or did odd jobs and earned extra income. The number has gone up by 7.0 thousand people (15.6 %) over the year and by 7.6 thousand people (17.2 %) over the quarter.

Women held a second job more often than men – 31.6 thousand and 20.3 thousand respectively. Those holding a second job mainly worked 1–10 hours per week (41.0 %) and 11–20 hours per week (34.2 %).

In Q1 2025, LFS covered 5.0 thousand households in which 8.3 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 4.3 thousand households with 7.1 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. 

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

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