RNB2504
Employment rate in Latvia at 65.2 % in Q3 2025
Results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in Q3 2025, 892.1 thousand people in Latvia, or 65.2 % of the population aged 15–74, were employed – 0.3 percentage points more quarter-on-quarter. The youth employment rate has also increased, reaching 34.1 %. The unemployment rate grew to 6.9 % (up by 0.2 percentage points quarter-on-quarter), whereas youth unemployment rate dropped to 12.1 % (down by 5.8 percentage points).
Quarter-on-quarter, employment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points and the number of employed persons by 2.7 thousand. Year-on-year, the rate has risen by 1.0 percentage points and the number of employed by 12.0 thousand.
In Q3 2025, employment rate for men was 3.7 percentage points higher than for women – 67.1 % and 63.4 %, respectively.
Employed population
(thousand)
| Q3 2024 | 2025 | Change in Q3 2025, compared to | ||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2025 | ||||
| thousand | % | thousand | % | |||||
| Total (aged 15–74) | 880.1 | 868.0 | 889.3 | 892.1 | 12.0 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.3 |
| males | 434.6 | 430.4 | 439.2 | 438.1 | 3.5 | 0.8 | −1.1 | −0.3 |
| females | 445.5 | 437.6 | 450.1 | 454.0 | 8.5 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 0.9 |
| Young people (aged 15–24) | 58.2 | 52.3 | 59.5 | 64.2 | 6.0 | 10.4 | 4.7 | 7.9 |
Refer to the OSP database: NBL020c
Youth employment rate increased
Employment rate for young people aged 15–24 was 34.1 %, representing a rise of 3.3 percentage points year-on-year. The total number of employed youths stood at 64.2 thousand (58.2 thousand in Q3 2024).
Drop in the number of employed persons with a second job
In Q3 2025, 36.9 thousand employed (4.1 %) held a second job, i.e., had another job in addition to their main job or did odd jobs and earned extra income. Year-on-year, the number has dropped by 1.7 thousand people or 4.5 %, while quarter-on-quarter, it has reduced by 11.4 thousand people or 23.6 %.
Women held a second job more often than men, at 20.3 thousand and 16.6 thousand respectively. Those holding a second job mainly worked 1–10 hours per week (36.3 %) and 11–20 hours per week (22.7 %).
Unemployment rate increased
The total number of unemployed persons aged 15–74 (inclusive) reached 66.2 thousand, increasing by 3.2 thousand (5.1 %) year-on-year and by 2.5 thousand (4.0%) quarter-on-quarter. The unemployment rate reached 6.9 %, which is 0.2 percentage points higher both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter.
Quarter-on-quarter, the number of unemployed men rose by 3.7 thousand (11.1 %), while the number of unemployed women reduced by 1.2 thousand (4.0 %).
Number of unemployed persons
(thousand)
| Q3 2024 | 2025 | Change in Q3 2025, compared to | ||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2025 | ||||
| thousand | % | thousand | % | |||||
| Total (aged 15–74) | 63.0 | 69.5 | 63.7 | 66.2 | 3.2 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| males | 37.4 | 39.1 | 33.8 | 37.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.7 | 11.1 |
| females | 25.6 | 30.4 | 29.9 | 28.7 | 3.0 | 11.9 | −1.2 | −4.0 |
| Young people (aged 15–24) | 8.7 | 9.8 | 12.9 | 8.8 | 0.2 | 1.7 | −4.1 | −31.8 |
Refer to the OSP database: NBB160c
Rise in the number of long-term unemployed
In Q3 2025, there were 28.9 thousand persons who did not have a job for up to five months, (down by 7.0 thousand year-on-year and up by 0.5 thousand quarter-on-quarter). The number of persons unemployed for 6–11 months totalled 10.5 thousand (up by 0.8 thousand year-on-year and down by 3.4 thousand quarter-on-quarter).
The number of long-term unemployed persons (unemployed for 12 months or more) reached 26.2 thousand, which is 8.9 thousand more year-on-year and 5.0 thousand more quarter-on-quarter. The share of long-term unemployed in the total number of unemployed persons made up 39.9 % (up by 12.5 percentage points year-on-year and by 6.5 percentage points quarter-on-quarter).
Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment
(per cent)
| Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 | Q1 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q3 2025 | |
| Up to 5 months | 53.7 | 48.8 | 57.2 | 46.5 | 48.9 | 44.7 | 44.1 |
| 6–11 months | 16.3 | 18.1 | 15.4 | 14.7 | 17.5 | 22.0 | 16.1 |
| 12 months and more | 30.0 | 33.1 | 27.4 | 38.7 | 33.6 | 33.3 | 39.9 |
CSB estimate; the totals may not constitute 100 % as the numbers are calculated from unrounded figures.
Youth unemployment rate fell
Young people aged 15–24 made up 8.8 thousand or 13.3 % of all unemployed persons. The total number of unemployed youths has grown by 0.2 thousand year-on-year and reduced by 4.1 thousand quarter-on-quarter. Their share has gone down by 0.4 percentage points year-on-year and by 7.0 percentage points quarter-on-quarter.
Employment rate for young people was 12.1 %, representing a reduction of 0.9 percentage points year-on-year and of 5.8 percentage points quarter-on-quarter.
Decline in the inactive population
Almost a third of the population aged 15–74 (30.0 % or 410.5 thousand people at this age) was inactive in Q3 2025, i.e., was neither in employment, nor actively looking for a job. Quarter-on-quarter, inactive population has reduced by 6.6 thousand people or 1.6 %, while year-on-year by 17.2 thousand people or 4.0 %.
In Q3 2025, LFS covered 4.7 thousand households in which 7.7 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 4.1 thousand households with 6.7 thousand people aged 15–74.
Additional LFS results, including information on hours worked in the main job, remote work, and other, are available on the official statistics portal, in sections Employment, Unemployment and Labour status.
Media requests:
Public Relations Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666
More information on the data:
Sandra Ceriņa
Social Statistics Data Analysis and Dissemination Section
E-mail: Sandra.Cerina@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366653
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