RDV2304
Number of job vacancies reduced by 2.2 % in Q3 2023
Central Statistical Bureau data show that in Q3 2023 there were 25.5 thousand job vacancies in Latvia, which is 0.6 thousand vacant jobs or 2.2 % fewer than in Q3 2022.
In private sector there were 14.4 thousand and in public sector 11.1 thousand vacant jobs. Over the year job vacancy number in private sector fell by 1.3 thousand or 8.2 % while in public sector grew by 0.7 thousand or 6.9 %.
Out of all jobs available in Latvia (both occupied and vacant), 2.8 % positions were vacant, of which 3.7 % in public and 2.3 % in private sector.
Compared to Q3 2022, in Q3 2023 the average number of occupied posts in the country went down by 7.9 thousand or 0.9 %. In private sector it dropped by 6.3 thousand or 1.0 % and in public by 1.6 thousand or 0.6 %.
Refer to the OSP database: DVB010c, NBB160c
Job vacancies and occupied posts by sector
| End of Q3 2022, thousand | End of Q3 2023, thousand | Change, % |
Job vacancies, total | 26.1 | 25.5 | −2.2 |
private sector | 15.7 | 14.4 | −8.2 |
public sector | 10.4 | 11.1 | 6.9 |
Occupied posts, total | 896.2 | 888.3 | −0.9 |
private sector | 608.5 | 602.2 | −1.0 |
public sector | 287.7 | 286.1 | −0.6 |
In terms of major occupational groups, the largest share of job vacancies was recorded among technicians and associate professionals (4.5 %), skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (3.9 %), craft and related trades workers (3.7 %), plant and machine operators and assemblers as well as service and sales workers (2.9 %).
Major occupational groups are classified in line with the national Classification of Occupations
In terms of economic activities, the largest share of job vacancies was recorded in public administration (8.8 %), followed by administrative and support service activities (4.8 %), accommodation and food service activities as well as transportation and storage (3.0 % in each).
Job vacancies and occupied posts by economic activity
| End of Q3 2022 | End of Q3 2023 | ||||
Job vacancies, thousand | Occupied posts, thousand | Job vacancy rate, % | Job vacancies, thousand | Occupied posts, thousand | Job vacancy rate, % | |
Total | 26.1 | 896.2 | 2.8 | 25.5 | 888.3 | 2.8 |
Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) | 0.2 | 22.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 22.8 | 0.9 |
Mining and quarrying (B) | 0.1 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 2.0 |
Manufacturing (C) | 3.7 | 115.4 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 112.0 | 2.5 |
Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (D) | 0.3 | 10.6 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 10.1 | 2.1 |
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (E) | 0.2 | 7.0 | 3.2 | 0.1 | 7.0 | 1.8 |
Construction (F) | 2.1 | 61.3 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 60.0 | 2.8 |
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G) | 2.7 | 139.6 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 137.6 | 2.0 |
Transportation and storage (H) | 1.9 | 67.6 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 66.9 | 3.0 |
Accommodation and food service activities (I) | 1.0 | 30.8 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 31.6 | 3.0 |
Information and communication (J) | 1.4 | 39.7 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 39.8 | 2.7 |
Financial and insurance activities (K) | 0.4 | 16.4 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 16.6 | 2.4 |
Real estate activities (L) | 0.5 | 27.7 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 27.7 | 1.5 |
Professional, scientific and technical activities (M) | 0.4 | 39.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 39.3 | 1.0 |
Administrative and support service activities (N) | 1.4 | 39.3 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 39.3 | 4.8 |
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (O) | 5.2 | 65.1 | 7.4 | 5.9 | 61.5 | 8.8 |
Education (P) | 1.6 | 96.4 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 95.4 | 1.7 |
Human health and social work activities (Q) | 2.2 | 79.6 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 83.5 | 2.6 |
Arts, entertainment and recreation (R) | 0.4 | 22.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 22.4 | 1.3 |
Other service activities (S) | 0.1 | 11.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 11.3 | 0.5 |
Regional breakdown of the Q3 2023 data shows the largest share of vacant jobs in Riga (3.7 % or 18.6 thousand) and the smallest in Kurzeme and Vidzeme (1.3 % or 1.0 thousand and 1.2 % or 0.7 thousand, respectively). In Pierīga region 2.3 % of jobs or 3.3 thousand positions were vacant, in Zemgale 1.5 % or 1.0 thousand, and in Latgale 1.4 % or 1.0 thousand.
Among the three Baltic states, the greatest proportion of job vacancies was recorded in Latvia – 2.8 %, while Lithuania and Estonia both followed with 2.0 %.
Over the year, number of vacant jobs in Estonia and Latvia reduced by 8.7 % and 2.2 %, respectively, while in Lithuania grew by 7.2 %.
Data source: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia
Reference metadata describing statistics for occupied and vacant jobs is available in the official statistics portal Occupied posts and job vacancies section.
Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666
More information on data:
Santa Maļinovska
Wage Statistics Section
E-mail: Santa.Malinovska@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366666
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