At the end of May the level of registered unemployment reached 8.4% of the economically active population, up by 0.4% MoM, according to data from the State Employment Agency (NVA).
At the end of May the number of unemployed persons registered with NVA was 76,440, up by 3,523 people.
The most rapid increase of the unemployment level was observed in Riga and Pieriga in both May an in previous five months.
Unemployment levels in Riga and Riga region in May increased by 0.5%, whereas when compared with the end of 2019 the level of unemployment in Riga increased by 2.7% and in Riga region – by 2.5%.
At the same time, Riga and Riga region still have the lowest unemployment levels among Latvia’s regions. Data from NVA showed the unemployment level registered in Riga was 6.7% at the end of May, whereas in Riga region it was 6.8% of the economically active population.
The highest unemployment level at the end of May was observed in Latgale region – 15.7%, up by 0.4% MoM and by 1.9% YoY.
In Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Zemgale the registered level of unemployment increased by 0.3% in May, reaching 8.9%, 8% and 8% of the economically active population respectively.
Compared to the end of 2019, unemployment in Kurzeme and Zemgale increased by 1.7% and by 2.1% in Vidzeme.
At the end of 2019 the level of registered unemployment in Latvia was 6.2% of the economically active population. At the end of April it was 8%. (BNN/Business World Magazine)