Latvian unemployment rate 6.9 % in 2022

Results of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) show that 65.2 thousand persons¹ aged 15–74 (incl.) were unemployed in 2022. Compared to 2021 the number of unemployed persons has decreased by 5.4 thousand or 7.6 %. Last year, Latvian unemployment rate constituted 6.9 %, which is 0.7 percentage points fewer than in 2021. Unemployment rate among women is still lower than among men (5.6 % and 8.1 %, respectively).

Over the quarter unemployment rate has dropped by 0.2 percentage points while over the year by 0.4 percentage points. In Q4 2022 there were 63.5 thousand unemployed persons, which is 2.9 thousand or 4.4 % fewer than in Q3 2022.

In Q4 2022, compared to Q3 2022, the number of unemployed men grew by 3.7 thousand or 10.3 % while of unemployed women fell by 6.7 thousand or 21.9 %.

Number of unemployed persons

(thousand)

 Refer to the OSP database: NBB160c and NBB020 

In Q3 2022 Latvian unemployment rate (6.9 %) was 0.9 percentage points above the EU average (6.0 %). In Q4 2022 it still was the highest among the Baltic countries (5.4 % in Estonia and 6.4 % in Lithuania).

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_URGAED, data on Q4 2022 – OSP database: NBB160c, results of the LFS conducted by Lithuania and Estonia.

Decline in the share of long-term unemployed

In 2022, compared to the year before, the number of unemployed persons without job for up to five months fell by 3.5 thousand (constituting 32.8 thousand or 50.7 %) while that of persons unemployed for 6–11 months grew by 0.4 thousand (13.1 thousand or 20.2 %). The number of long-term unemployed persons, i.e., those without job for 12 months or more, dropped by 2.5 thousand (constituting 18.8 thousand or 29.1 % of all unemployed persons (30.3 % in 2021).

In Q4 2022, 33.5 thousand or 53.0 % of unemployed persons did not have a job for up to five months (32.4 thousand or 49.5 % in Q3 2022) and 12.2 thousand or 19.2 % for 6–11 months (14.5 thousand or 22.1 % in Q3 2022). The number of long-term unemployed accounted for 17.6 thousand in Q4 2022 and 18.5 thousand in Q3 2022. Over the quarter their share has dropped by 0.5 percentage points and constituted 27.8 %.

Unemployed persons* by duration of unemployment

(per cent)

* CSB estimate; the totals may not constitute 100 % as the numbers are calculated from unrounded figures.

Number of unemployed young people up by 1.5 thousand

In 2022 youth unemployment rate constituted 15.3 %, which is 0.5 percentage points more than a year ago (14.8 % in 2021). Young people aged 15–24 accounted for 9.8 thousand or 15.1 % of all unemployed persons. Over the year, the number of unemployed youth has risen by 1.5 thousand and their share in the total number of unemployed persons by 3.3 percentage points.

In Q4 2022 youth unemployment rate comprised 16.1 %, i.e., it was 1.6 percentage points lower than in Q3 2022. The number of unemployed youth fell by 2.2 thousand and they accounted for 10.3 thousand or 16.3 % of all unemployed people (12.5 thousand or 18.8 % in Q3 2022).

Latvian youth unemployment rate has been lower than the EU average since 2013, however higher than in Estonia and Lithuania. In 2022 it was higher than in Lithuania (11.8 %) and lower than in Estonia (18.6 %).

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSA_URGAED, data on 2021 – OSP data base: NBB010, results of the LFS conducted by Lithuania and Estonia.

In 2022, 36.1 % of all young people were economically active (i.e., employed or actively looking for a job (unemployed)), while 63.9 % were inactive (mostly still in education and not looking for job).

Decline in inactive population

In 2022, 31.4 % or 434.6 thousand people aged 15–74 (incl. 160.9 thousand or 37.0 % in the age group 65–74) were inactive, i.e., were neither in employment, nor actively looking for a job. Compared to 2021 inactive population has declined by 12.2 thousand people or 2.7 %.

In Q4 2022 inactive population (people aged 15–74) accounted for 31.5 % or 438.2 thousand people. Compared to Q3 2022 inactive population has increased by 11.4 thousand people or 2.7 %.

In 2022, 5.3 thousand or 1.2 % of the inactive population were discouraged from finding a job (6.0 thousand or 1.4 % in 2021). In Q4 2022 there were 7.1 thousand such people or 1.7 % (2.7 thousand or 0.7 % in Q3 2022).

In 2022 LFS covered 18.5 thousand households in which 31.9 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 16.5 thousand households with 27.9 thousand people aged 15–74. In Q4 2022 LFS covered 4.8 thousand households in which 8.3 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 4.3 thousand households with 7.2 thousand people aged 15–74.

Methodological explanations

¹ In 2022 the LFS results are extrapolated to the population that includes citizens of Ukraine who have received temporary protection in Latvia and live in private households.

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More information on data:
Santa Zaļkalne
Social Statistics Data Compilation and Analysis Section
E-mail: Santa.Zalkalne@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366990