Unemployment rate grew slightly at the end of the year

Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) estimate shows that in December 2023 actual unemployment rate in Latvia was 6.6 % and it has risen by 0.2 percentage points compared to November. Compered to December the year before, actual unemployment rate has not changed.

Unemployment among women stayed stable at 5.4 % and among men rose by 0.4 percentage points to 7.9 %.

The unemployment rate registered with the State Employment Agency (SEA) was 5.7 %. It has risen by 0.3 percentage points over the month and reduced by 0.4 percentage points over the year.

In December 2023 there were 63.1 thousand unemployed persons in Latvia (26.0 thousand women and 37.1 thousand men), which is 1.9 thousand more than a month ago and 0.7 thousand more than a year ago. During the month, the number of unemployed men grew by 1.8 thousand and of unemployed women by 0.2 thousand.

SEA calculates registered unemployment rate by using own data on registered unemployed persons and CSB data on active population (employed and unemployed persons) of working age. The actual unemployment rate is estimated indirectly, based on the quarterly Labour Force Survey results compiled by the CSB and SEA monthly data on registered unemployed persons.

Registered unemployment rate by month – SEA website
Methodology used for CSB monthly estimates – reference metadata in official statistics portal Employment and unemployment section

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

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