Data of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia show that in 2022 there were 25.9 thousand job vacancies in Latvia, which is 1.4 thousand vacancies or 5.8 % more than in 2021. In private sector there were 15.6 thousand and in public sector 10.3 thousand job vacancies. Over the year job vacancy number in private sector fell by 0.3 thousand or 2.0 % and in public sector grew by 1.7 thousand or 20.3 %.

Refer to the OSP database: DVB010c, NBB160c

Out of all jobs available in Latvia (both occupied and vacant), 2.8 % positions were vacant, of which 3.5 % in public and 2.5 % in private sector.

Compared to 2021, in 2022 the average number of occupied posts in the country went down by 4.9 thousand or 0.6 %. In private sector it dropped by 2.1 thousand or 0.3 % and in public by 2.8 thousand or 1.0 %.

Job vacancies and occupied posts by sector

	Average in 2021, thousand	Average in 2022, thousand	Change, %
Job vacancies, total	24.4	25.9	5.8
private sector	15.9	15.6	-2.0
public sector	8.6	10.3	20.3
Occupied posts, total	892.6	887.7	-0.6
private sector	605.4	603.3	-0.3
public sector	287.3	284.4	-1.0

In terms of major occupational groups, the largest share of job vacancies was recorded among craft and related trades workers (4.2 %), technicians and associate professionals (4.1 %), skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (3.2 %), as well as elementary occupations (3.2 %).

Major occupational groups are classified in line with the national Classification of Occupations
Refer to the OSP database: DVB020

In terms of economic activities, the largest share of job vacancies (7.5 %) was recorded in public administration, followed by mining and quarrying (4.1 %), administrative and support service activities (3.4 %), accommodation and food service activities as well as information and communication (3.3 %), manufacturing, construction, transportation and storage (3.2 %).

Job vacancies and occupied posts by economic activity

	Average in 2021			Average in 2022
	Job vacancies, thousand	Occupied posts, thousand	Job vacancy rate, %	Job vacancies, thousand	Occupied posts, thousand	Job vacancy rate, %
Total	24.4	892.6	2.7	25.9	887.7	2.8
Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A)	0.2	21.4	1.0	0.4	21.6	1.7
Mining and quarrying (B)	0.1	3.4	2.7	0.1	3.4	4.1
Manufacturing (C)	4.5	116.2	3.7	3.8	115.3	3.2
Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (D)	0.2	11.3	1.7	0.3	10.6	2.6
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (E)	0.2	7.2	2.2	0.2	6.9	2.5
Construction (F)	2.3	62.1	3.5	2.0	59.8	3.2
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G)	3.0	140.6	2.1	2.6	140.1	1.9
Transportation and storage (H)	1.9	69.1	2.6	2.2	67.4	3.2
Accommodation and food service activities (I)	0.8	27.2	2.8	1.0	29.7	3.3
Information and communication (J)	1.1	38.7	2.8	1.3	39.3	3.3
Financial and insurance activities (K)	0.3	15.8	2.0	0.4	16.4	2.3
Real estate activities (L)	0.6	27.5	2.1	0.4	27.6	1.5
Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)	0.5	40.2	1.1	0.4	39.1	1.1
Administrative and support service activities (N)	1.1	37.5	3.0	1.3	38.6	3.4
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (O)	4.0	63.6	5.9	5.1	63.0	7.5
Education (P)	1.2	99.0	1.2	1.6	96.7	1.6
Human health and social work activities (Q)	2.3	76.0	2.9	2.2	78.4	2.7
Arts, entertainment and recreation (R)	0.3	23.1	1.5	0.4	22.4	1.7
Other service activities (S)	0.0	12.8	0.3	0.1	11.4	0.6

Regional breakdown of the data shows that in 2022 the largest share of job vacancies was registered in Riga (3.6 % or 17.8 thousand) and the smallest in Kurzeme and Vidzeme (1.1 and 0.9 thousand, respectively). In Pierīga region 2.6 % of jobs or 3.7 thousand positions were vacant, in Zemgale 1.8 % or 1.2 thousand, and in Latgale 1.7 % or 1.1 thousand.

Among the three Baltic states, the greatest proportion of job vacancies was recorded in Latvia – 2.8 %, followed by Estonia with 2.0 % and Lithuania with 1.9 %. The sharpest rise in the job vacancy number over the year was observed in Estonia (19.4 %). Lithuania followed with an upturn of 6.0 % and Latvia with 5.8 %.

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

More information on data:
Lija Luste
Wages Statistics Section
E-mail: Lija.Luste@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366917

Vacancies

Press releases

RDVA2603 The number of vacant jobs comprised 19.7 thousand in Q2

RDVA2602 In Q1 2025, there were 19.8 thousand vacant jobs in Latvia

RDVA2601 The number of vacant jobs averaged 20.0 thousand in 2025

RDVA2603

The number of vacant jobs comprised 19.7 thousand in Q2

RDVA2602

In Q1 2025, there were 19.8 thousand vacant jobs in Latvia

RDVA2601

The number of vacant jobs averaged 20.0 thousand in 2025