65.1 % of the population were employed in Q2 2026

Results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in Latvia 885.5 thousand people, or 65.1 % of the population aged 15–74 ¹, were employed in Q2 2026. Year on year, the employment rate rose only slightly overall, with increase also recorded among young people and older people. The number of employed persons with a second job went up considerably. Unemployment rate stood at 7.0 %.

Compared with Q2 2025, the employment rate in the age group 15–74 increased by 0.2 percentage points ², while the number of employed persons fell by 3.8 thousand. In the age group 20–64, 815.8 thousand persons were employed, which is 78.6 % of the total population in this age group. Year on year, employment rate in this age group reduced by 0.3 percentage points, and the number of employed persons dropped by 12.9 thousand.

Quarter on quarter, employment rate among persons aged 15–74 increased by 1.3 percentage points, and the number of employed persons rose by 14.3 thousand. Among persons aged 20–64, the increase was 1.3 percentage points and 9.4 thousand respectively.

Employment rate for older people reached 27.6 %, representing a rise of 2.6 percentage points year on year.

Employment rate for men was 1.9 percentage points higher than for women, at 66.1 % and 64.2 % respectively. In the age group 20–64, employment rate for men was 0.6 percentage points lower – 78.3 % and 78.8 % respectively.

Employed population

(thousand)

Refer to the OSP database: NBL020c

Youth employment rate has increased

Employment rate for young people aged 15–24 was 33.2 %, representing a rise of 1.4 percentage points year on year and of 1.6 percentage points quarter on quarter. The total number of employed youths stood at 62.7 thousand (59.5 thousand in Q2 2025).

Increase in the number of employed persons with a second job

In Q2 2026, 67.7 thousand employed persons (7.7 %) 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 increased by 19.5 thousand people or 40.3 %, while quarter on quarter, it has risen by 10.7 thousand people or 18.9 %. In the age group 20–64, 62.7 thousand employed persons (7.7 %) held a second job, representing an increase of 17.5 thousand or 38.6 % year on year and of 9.3 thousand or 17.4 % quarter on quarter.

Women held a second job more often than men, at 39.3 thousand and 28.5 thousand respectively. People holding a second job mainly worked 1–10 hours per week (39.8 %) and 11–20 hours per week (20.4 %).

Most common frequency of remote work: 1–2 days a week

In Q2 2026, 16.8 % of employees (127.2 thousand) worked remotely ³ all the time or several days each week, representing an increase of 26.2 thousand or 3.4 percentage points year on year (101.0 thousand and 13.4 % in Q2 2025) and a rise of 11.7 thousand or 1.4 percentage points quarter on quarter (115.5 thousand and 15.4 % in Q1 2026). 

Among employees working remotely, the most common pattern was working remotely 1–2 days a week (42.1 %, compared with 16.1 % working remotely all the time).

Among economic activities, the highest share of employees working remotely was recorded in publishing, broadcasting, content production and information service activities (70.0 % of all employees in the respective activity), followed by financial and insurance activities (69.7 %). Almost one in three employees (31.8 %) worked remotely in real estate, scientific, and administrative activities. In public administration and defence; compulsory social security, one in four employees (24.5 %) worked remotely.

CSB estimate. Responses ‘Don’t know, no answer’ are not shown (2.4 %).

Decline in the inactive population

Almost a third of the population aged 15–74 (30.0 %, or 408.3 thousand people) was inactive, i.e., was neither in employment, nor actively looking for a job. Compared with Q2 2025, inactive population has declined by 8.9 thousand people (2.1 %), while compared with Q1 2026 it has reduced by 19.1 thousand people (4.5 %). Among the population aged 20–64, 161.6 thousand people (15.6 %) were inactive, representing a year-on-year reduction of 2.3 thousand (1.4 %) and a quarter-on-quarter drop of 12.0 thousand (6.9 %). 

Unemployment rate at 7.0 %

The unemployment rate stood at 7.0 %, which is 0.3 percentage points higher year on year and 0.1 percentage points lower quarter on quarter.

The total number of unemployed persons aged 15–74 was 66.2 thousand, increasing by 2.5 thousand (4.0 %) year on year and reducing by 0.2 thousand (0.3 %) quarter on quarter. 

The unemployment rate for men was 2.3 percentage points higher than for women, at 8.1 % and 5.9 % respectively.

Number of unemployed persons

(thousand)

Refer to the OSP database: NBB160c

Reduction in the share of long-term unemployed

In Q2 2026, there were 33.1 thousand persons aged 15–74 who did not have a job for up to five months, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.7 thousand and a quarter-on-quarter rise of 1.0 thousand. The number of persons unemployed for 6–11 months totalled 11.4 thousand, down by 2.5 thousand year on year and up by 3.0 thousand quarter on quarter.

The number of long-term unemployed persons (unemployed for 12 months or more) reached 21.6 thousand, up by 0.4 thousand year on year and down by 4.2 thousand quarter on quarter. The share of long-term unemployed in the total number of unemployed persons made up 32.7 %, reducing by 0.7 percentage points year on year and by 6.2 percentage points quarter on quarter.

Youth unemployment rate gone up

Young people aged 15–24 made up 11.1 thousand or 16.7 % of all unemployed persons Their share has reduced by 3.6 percentage points compared with Q2 2025 and increased by 7.4 percentage points compared with Q1 2026. 

The unemployment rate for young people was 15.0 %, representing a reduction of 2.8 percentage points year on year and an increase of 5.6 percentage points quarter on quarter. The total number of unemployed youths has declined by 1.8 thousand year on year and risen by 4.9 thousand quarter on quarter.

Methodological information

¹ In their studies and publications, the OECD and Eurostat define the working-age population as persons aged 20–64. Under Latvian legislation, however, persons are considered to be of working age from the age of 15 until the statutory retirement age. Thus, the data cover age groups 15–74 years and 20–64 years.

² Hereinafter the numbers are calculated from unrounded figures. 

³ 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.

In Q2 2026, LFS covered 4.2 thousand households in which 7.0 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 3.7 thousand households with 6.0 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 Methodology Section
Email: Sandra.Cerina@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366653