Last year there were 19.5 thousand vacant jobs in Latvia. When compared to 2019, their numbers have declined by 9.6 thousand or by 33%, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
In the private sector there were 11.7 thousand vacant jobs and 7.8 thousand in the public sector. Compared to the previous year, the number of jobs in the private sector has declined by 9.2 thousand or by 43.9% and by 0.4 thousand or by 5.3% in the public sector.
Of all the jobs available in Latvia (vacant and full together) 2.1% were vacant, of which 2.6% in the public sector and 1.9% in the private sector.
In 2020, the average number of filled jobs in the country, when compared to 2019, declined by 25 thousand or by 2.7% (by 22.9 thousand or by 3.7% in the private sector and by 2.2 thousand or by 0.7% in the public sector).
The top percentage of vacant jobs was observed for qualified workers and craftsmen group – 3.4%, as well as machinery operators and specialists group – 2.4%.
In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic affected demand for workers in all main work groups. The impact was felt the most for qualified agriculture, forestry and fisheries workers, service and trade workers, machinery and vehicle operators, as well as simple professions and qualified workers and craftsmen.
In 2020, the highest percentage of vacant jobs was in state administration – 5.7%, mining and quarrying sector – 3.9%, construction sector – 3%, health and social care sector and processing industry – 2.8%, as well as transport and storage sector – 2.6%.
Of all of Latvia’s regions the percentage of vacant jobs was the highest in Riga – 2.6% and the lowest in Zemgale – 1.1%.
At the end of Q4 2020, there were 17.2 thousand vacant jobs in Latvia. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the number of vacant jobs has reduced by 10.8 thousand or by 38.6%.
Of the three Baltic States, the percentage of vacant jobs in 2020 was the highest in Latvia – 1.9%, followed by Estonia – 1.4% and Lithuania 1.2%. (BNN/Business World Magazine)