In May, actual unemployment rate in Latvia constituted 9.6%, up by 0.4% MoM.
Unemployment rate registered by the State Employment Agency (SEA) accounted for 8.4%, up by 0.4%. Unemployment rate has also increased when compared to May 2019 – actual unemployment rate by 3.3% and registered by 2.3%, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
In May, in Latvia there were 93.5 thousand unemployed persons, up by 4 thousand MoM and by 32.6 thousand YoY. Over the past three months (since the emergency situation was announced), the number of unemployed persons has risen by 22.5 thousand, compared to actual monthly unemployment in February.
Registered and actual unemployment rate is calculated based on the SEA data and results of the Labor Force Survey conducted by the CSB. SEA data cover only population of working age.
Aiming to limit the spread of COVID-19, since March 13 CSB has not been conducting face-to-face interviews at respondent residences. All interviews are taken online or by phone.
CSB reminds that during the time of change information on population employment is important to assess impact of the current situation on the national economic and social processes and therefore is asking population to be active and participate in surveys by phone or online. CSB would like to say thank you to everyone who took part in surveys and helped to assess the effect of the current situation on national processes. (BNN/Business World Magazine)