The lowest number of employed persons - in December 2020, while the highest number of unemployed persons - in July

The lowest number of employed persons was observed in December ¹ 2020 – 875.6 thousand, but the highest number of unemployed persons - (84.7 thousand) in July, concluded in the publication “Labour Force Survey: Key Indicators in 2020” issued by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB).

In 2020, a new, very serious, uncertain, and growth-inhibiting factor emerged for economic growth: Covid-19. As a result of the pandemic and various state restrictions, several sectors of activity were affected. Examining the changes in the number of employed persons in 2020, a decrease in their number may be observed; while at the beginning of the year 902.0 thousand persons were employed, then by December the number of employed persons decreased to 875.6 thousand. The most rapid changes in the number of employed persons were observed in December 2020, when their number decreased by 11.4 thousand compared to November. It should be noted that on November 9, the second state of emergency was declared in the country, according to which face-to-face trade was restricted, cultural sites as well as recreational places were closed, several personal grooming establishment and related service providers were banned. Strict restrictions affected the number of employed persons. From January to December, the number of employed females decreased by 16.3 thousand, but the number of males - by 10.1 thousand.

In January 2020 there were 72.3 thousand unemployed persons in Latvia and the unemployment rate was 7.4 %, whereas in July their number increased to 84.7 thousand, the total unemployment rate reaching the highest point in 2020: 8.7 %. Over the next three months, the number of unemployed persons began to decline, as restrictions introduced in the state started to ease. On November 9, the state of emergency was declared for the second time and various restrictions were tightened, thus the number of unemployed persons started to increase again in the last two months of the year, reaching 75.7 thousand unemployed persons in December and the total unemployment rate of 8.0 %.

The highest number of unemployed males was observed in May 2020, when compared to January it increased by 10.0 thousand, reaching 50.8 thousand (unemployment rate 10.3 %). In turn, the highest number of unemployed females was observed in August, when compared to January it increased by 6.8 thousand, reaching 38.3 thousand and the unemployment rate 7.8 %.

The beginning and the end of working time in Latvia, more often than in other EU Member States, is determined by employer

The publication “Labour Force Survey: Key Indicators in 2020” was supplemented with a section “Work organisation and working time” summarizing data on the flexibility of working time, working methods and the workplace of the employed persons. The EU Labour Force Survey module² was conducted in 2019 with Eurostat funding.

The beginning and end of working time of the employed persons in Latvia (aged 15–74) more often than in other EU Member States is determined by the employer or organization³. In 2019, 73.1 % of the employed persons indicated that the beginning and end of their working time is indicated by the employer or organisation (EU - 60.8 %). 15.3 % of employed persons are free to decide the start and end of working time (18.1 % in the EU).

There are slight differences between the assessment of Latvian and EU employed persons about the possibility to take one or two free hours during the working day. In Latvia, 57.9 % and in the EU 66.4% of employed persons believe that it is fairly easy and very easy for them to take one or two free hours during the working day, however 42.1 % of Latvian and 33.6 % of EU employed persons find it fairly difficult and very difficult to do so.

Work organisation

There are differences between the EU and Latvia in recording working hours and attendance at the workplace. In the EU, the majority (78.8 %) of employees have a fixed presence or hours worked at a workplace, while in Latvia only 37.1 % of employees are obliged to do so.

In both Latvia and the EU, males more often than females work in stressful work conditions, when work tasks must be performed in a too short period of time. In Latvia, 34.2 % of employed males and 28.0 % of employed females always or often have to work in stressful time regime (in the EU - 36.8 % of males and 35.4 % of females).

Employed females (91.2 %) in Latvia more often than males (67.0 %) have indicated that their main job is mainly performed in the employer's premises or in their own premises (in the EU - 87.4 % of females and 71.8 % of males). In turn, employed males (19.6 %) more often than females (2.9 %) have indicated that their main job is performed in places that are not stationary (for example, in vehicles) or in other places (EU - 13.1 % of males and 3.2 % of females).

Methodological explanations

Additional information is available in the data collection “Labour Force Survey: Key Indicators in 2020", on the Official statistics portal in the section “Employment and unemployment”, as well as in the Eurostat website.

The data collection contains statistical information using the CSB Labour Force Survey on the economic activity of the population and the situation in the labour market. The annual sample size of the Labour Force Survey in 2020 was 29 952 dwellings. A total of 27.3 thousand people aged 15 to 74 were surveyed.

¹ Unadjusted monthly CSB Labour Force Survey estimates for the population aged 15-74. Data obtained: 26.05.2021
² EU average indicators are compiled for the 27 EU Member States.
³ The total number here and hereinafter includes only persons who have answered the question.

The methodology of monthly assessments performed by the CSB is available in the section Employment and Unemployment

Seasonal Adjustment of Time Series During Crisis

Socio-economic indicators of the emergency situation are available on the Oficial statistics portal Covid-19 thematic section

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

More information on data:
Zaiga Priede
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail: Zaiga.Priede@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366886