Latvian unemployment rate was 6.9 % in 2024

Results from the Latvian Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that 65.3 thousand people aged 15–74 were unemployed in 2024. The number of unemployed persons has gone up by 3.8 thousand (6.2 %) over the year. Last year, Latvia had an unemployment rate of 6.9 %, and it has increased by 0.4 percentage points since 2023. Unemployment rate for women was still lower than for men (5.8 % and 8.0 % respectively). However, with a youth unemployment rate of 13.6 %, Latvia had the lowest youth unemployment among the Baltic countries for two years in a row.

In Q4 2024, Latvia had an unemployment rate of 6.9 %, which is 0.2 percentage points higher than in Q3 2024. The number of unemployed persons totalled 63.8 thousand, which is 0.8 thousand people (1.3 %) more than in Q3 2024.

Compared to Q3 2024, in Q4 2024 the number of unemployed men grew by 0.5 thousand (1.3 %) and of unemployed women by 0.4 thousand (1.4 %).

Number of unemployed persons

(thousand)

Refer to the OSP database: NBB020 and NBB160c

In Q3 2024 Latvian unemployment rate (6.7 %) was 0.9 percentage points above the EU average (5.8 %). In Q4 2024, it was 6.9 % and was lower than in Estonia (7.4 %) but higher than in Lithuania (6.5 %).

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_URGAED;

Q4 2024 data – OSP database table NBB160c, results from the LFS conducted in Lithuania and Estonia.

Smaller proportion of people unemployed for up to five months and larger of long-term unemployed 

The number of people who did not have a job for up to five months reduced by 0.2 thousand over the year (making up 33.5 thousand people (51.6 %)) and the number of persons unemployed for 6–11 months went down by 0.1 thousand (making up 10.5 thousand people (16.2 %)). Additionally, the number of long-term unemployed persons, i.e., those unemployed for 12 months or more, rose by 4.0 thousand, reaching 21.0 thousand in 2024 and representing 32.3 % of all unemployed persons (17.0 thousand (27.6 %) in 2023).

In Q4 2024, there were 29.7 thousand persons who did not have a job for up to five months, making up 46.5 % of all unemployed (36.0 thousand (57.2 %) in Q3 2024), and the number of persons unemployed for 6–11 months totalled 9.4 thousand, representing 14.7 % (9.7 thousand (15.4 %) in Q3 2024). However, the number of long-term unemployed grew significantly – by 7.5 thousand (11.3 percentage points). Thus, there were 24.7 thousand long-term unemployed persons in Q4 2024 (17.2 thousand in Q3 2024) and the share thereof among all unemployed represented 38.7 % (27.4 % in Q3 2024).

Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment

(per cent)

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

In 2024 Latvia had the lowest youth unemployment rate among the Baltic countries 

In 2024, youth (people aged 15–24) unemployment rate was 13.6 %, which is 1.3 percentage points higher than in 2023. Unemployed youths totalled 8.8 thousand, representing 13.5 % of all unemployed persons. The total number of unemployed youths grew by 0.9 thousand over the year and their share in the total number of unemployed persons by 0.7 percentage points.

In Q4 2024, youth unemployment rate was 12.5 %, which is 0.5 percentage points lower than in Q3 2024. The number of unemployed youths went down by 0.9 thousand over the quarter (from 13.8 % in Q3 2024) and totalled 7.8 thousand (12.2 % of all unemployed).

Youth unemployment rate in Latvia has been lower than in EU since 2013, while in 2022 Latvian rate was 0.8 percentage points above the EU average. However, in 2024, just like in 2023, Latvia had the lowest youth unemployment rate among the Baltic countries: 13.6 % in Latvia, 16.2 % in Lithuania, and 19.1 % in Estonia.

Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_URGAED;

2024 data – OSP database table NBB010, results from the LFS conducted in Lithuania and Estonia.

Out of all young people, 34.5 % were economically active in 2024 (i.e., employed or actively looking for a job (unemployed)), while 65.5 % inactive (mostly still in education and not looking for a job).

Inactive population declined in 2024

In 2024, 31.3 % of the population aged 15–74 were inactive, i.e., were neither in employment, nor actively looking for a job (totalling 429.3 thousand people, including 159.8 thousand in the age group 65–74 who represent 37.2 % of the total inactive population). Over the year inactive population reduced by 2.7 thousand people (0.6 %).

In Q4 2024, 32.0 % of the population aged 15–74 were inactive (437.5 thousand people). Over the quarter inactive population increased by 9.7 thousand people (2.3 %).

In 2024, 0.8 % of the inactive population were discouraged from finding a job (0.6 % in 2023).

In 2024 LFS covered 20.4 thousand households in which 34.1 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 17.7 thousand households with 29.4 thousand people aged 15–74. In Q4 2024 LFS covered 5 thousand households in which 8.5 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 4.4 thousand households with 7.3 thousand people aged 15–74.

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

More information on data:
Sandra Ceriņa
Social Statistics Data Compilation and Analysis Section
E-mail: Sandra.Cerina@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366653