RNBBA2507
Latvian unemployment rate was 7.4 % in Q1 2025
Results from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in Q1 2025 Latvia had an unemployment rate of 7.4 %. The rate has increased by 0.5 percentage points over the quarter and by 0.2 percentage points over the year. However, the proportion of long-term unemployed (those without work for 12 months or longer) has reduced to 33.6 % (down by 5.1 percentage points over the quarter and up by 3.6 percentage points over the year).
In Q1 2025 there were 69.5 thousand unemployed persons aged 15–74 (incl.). The figure has increased by 0.8 thousand (1.2 %) over the year and by 5.7 thousand (8.9 %) over the quarter.
Compared to Q4 2024, the number of unemployed men grew by 1.3 thousand (3.3 %) and of unemployed women by 4.4 thousand (17.0 %).
Number of unemployed persons
(thousand)
| 2024 | 2025 | Change, Q1 2025 compared to | ||||
Q1 | Q4 | Q1 | Q1 2024 | Q4 2024 | |||
thousand | % | thousand | % | ||||
Total (aged 15–74) | 68.7 | 63.8 | 69.5 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 5.7 | 8.9 |
males | 37.1 | 37.9 | 39.1 | 2.0 | 5.4 | 1.3 | 3.3 |
females | 31.6 | 26.0 | 30.4 | −1.2 | −3.8 | 4.4 | 17.0 |
Young people (aged 15–24) | 7.8 | 7.8 | 9.8 | 2.0 | 25.2 | 2.0 | 25.7 |
In Q4 2024, Latvian unemployment rate (6.9 %) was 1.2 percentage points above the EU average (5.7 %). In Q1 2025, it was higher than in Lithuania (6.9 %), but lower than in Estonia (8.6 %).
Refer to the Eurostat database: LFSQ_URGAED;
Q1 2025 data – OSP database table NBB160c, results from the LFS conducted in Lithuania and Estonia.
In Q1 2025, almost half of all unemployed persons (33.8 thousand) did not have a job for up to five months (down by 3 thousand over the year and up by 4.1 thousand over the quarter). The number of persons unemployed for 6–11 months totalled 12.1 thousand (up by 0.9 thousand over the year and by 2.7 thousand over the quarter).
Additionally, there were 23.2 thousand long-term unemployed persons (those without work for 12 months or longer), which is a rise of 2.7 thousand over the year and a decline of 1.5 thousand over the quarter. The share of long-term unemployed in the total number of unemployed persons made up 33.6 % (up by 3.6 percentage points over the year and down by 5.1 percentage points over the quarter).
Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment
(per cent)
| Q1 2023 | Q2 2023 | Q3 2023 | Q4 2023 | Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 | Q1 2025 |
Up to 5 months | 56.7 | 52.7 | 56.9 | 53.8 | 53.7 | 48.8 | 57.2 | 46.5 | 48.9 |
6–11 months | 14.7 | 17.6 | 17.5 | 19.4 | 16.3 | 18.1 | 15.4 | 14.7 | 17.5 |
12 months and more | 28.5 | 29.7 | 25.6 | 26.8 | 30.0 | 33.1 | 27.4 | 38.7 | 33.6 |
CSB estimate; the totals may not constitute 100 % as the numbers are calculated from unrounded figures.
Inactive population has declined over the quarter
In Q1 2025, almost a third of the population aged 15–74 (31.7 %, or 436.0 thousand people) was inactive, i.e., was neither in employment, nor actively looking for a job. Over the quarter inactive population reduced by 1.4 thousand people (0.3 %) while over the year increased by 8.7 thousand people (2.0 %).
In Q1 2025 LFS covered 5.0 thousand households in which 8.3 thousand people aged 15–89 were interviewed, including 4.3 thousand households with 7.1 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 Analysis and Dissemination Section
E-mail: Sandra.Cerina@csp.gov.lv
Phone.: +371 67366653
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