RDVA2601
The number of vacant jobs averaged 20.0 thousand in 2025
Central Statistical Bureau data show that in 2025 the average number of job vacancies in Latvia stood at 20.0 thousand, down by 3.1 thousand (13.3 %) compared with 2024. The public sector recorded 9.0 thousand vacant jobs, down by 1.8 thousand or 16.7 %, and private sector 11.0 thousand, down by 1.2 thousand or 10.2 %.
Refer to the OSP database: DVB010c, NBB160c
Out of all jobs available in the country (both occupied and vacant), 2.2 % positions were vacant, of which 3.0 % in the public sector and 1.8 % in private.
Compared with 2024, the average number of occupied posts has increased by 2.2 thousand (0.3 %), growing by 2.0 thousand (0.3 %) in the private sector and by 0.2 thousand (0.1 %) in public.
Occupied posts and job vacancies by sector
| Average in 2024, thousand | Average in 2025, thousand | Change, % | |
| Job vacancies, total | 23.0 | 20.0 | -13.3 |
| private sector | 12.2 | 11.0 | -10.2 |
| public sector | 10.8 | 9.0 | -16.7 |
| Occupied posts, total | 881.4 | 883.6 | 0.3 |
| private sector | 593.5 | 595.6 | 0.3 |
| public sector | 287.8 | 288.0 | 0.1 |
Compared with 2024, the number of job vacancies reduced in all major occupational groups, with the largest declines recorded for craft and related trades workers (down by 20.1 %), clerical support workers (13.8 %), and plant and machine operators and assemblers (13.2 %).
The largest share of vacant positions was registered for technicians and associate professionals (3.8 %), followed by craft and related trades workers (2.7 %) and elementary occupations (2.4 %).
Occupations meet the Latvian Classification of Occupations (which is based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations)
When broken down by economic activity, the greatest proportion of job vacancies was recorded in public administration – 6.6 %. Mining and quarrying follows with 3.2 %, administrative and support service activities with 3.1 %, and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply with 2.5 %.
Job vacancies and occupied posts by economic activity
| Average in 2024 | Average in 2025 | |||||
| Job vacancies, thousand | Occupied posts, thousand | Job vacancy rate, % | Job vacancies, thousand | Occupied posts, thousand | Job vacancy rate, % | |
| Total | 23.0 | 881.4 | 2.5 | 20.0 | 883.6 | 2.2 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) | 0.2 | 22.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 21.6 | 1.3 |
| Mining and quarrying (B) | 0.1 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| Manufacturing (C) | 2.8 | 108.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 107.2 | 2.4 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (D) | 0.3 | 10.3 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 10.5 | 2.5 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (E) | 0.1 | 6.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 7.1 | 2.3 |
| Construction (F) | 1.3 | 56.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 58.2 | 1.9 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G) | 2.2 | 136.2 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 133.7 | 1.4 |
| Transportation and storage (H) | 2.0 | 65.2 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 62.7 | 2.4 |
| Accommodation and food service activities (I) | 0.7 | 31.8 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 33.8 | 1.5 |
| Information and communication (J) | 1.1 | 39.8 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 40.5 | 2.3 |
| Financial and insurance activities (K) | 0.4 | 17.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 17.4 | 1.9 |
| Real estate activities (L) | 0.4 | 27.4 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 26.7 | 1.4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities (M) | 0.4 | 38.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 39.2 | 1.0 |
| Administrative and support service activities (N) | 1.3 | 39.1 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 39.3 | 3.1 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (O) | 5.4 | 62.7 | 7.9 | 4.5 | 63.6 | 6.6 |
| Education (P) | 1.6 | 95.2 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 96.0 | 1.2 |
| Human health and social work activities (Q) | 2.2 | 86.5 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 88.9 | 2.3 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation (R) | 0.3 | 22.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 22.7 | 1.2 |
| Other service activities (S) | 0.1 | 11.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 11.4 | 0.6 |
Regional breakdown of the data shows the largest share of vacant jobs in Riga and Riga region (2.7 % or 16.3 thousand) and the smallest in Latgale (1.1 % or 0.7 thousand). In Zemgale region, 1.3 % of jobs were vacant (0.9 thousand positions), in Vidzeme those were 1.3 % (1.0 thousand), and in Kurzeme 1.2 % (1.1 thousand).
Reference metadata describing statistics for occupied and vacant jobs are available in the official statistics portal Occupied posts and job vacancies section.
Media requests:
Public Relations Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666
More information on the data:
Santa Leftere
Business Statistics Data Analysis and Dissemination Section
E-mail: Santa.Leftere@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366666
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