In 2021, there were 24.4 thousand job vacancies in Latvia, up by 4.9 thousand or by 25.3% YoY. There were 15.9 thousand job vacancies in the private sector and 8.6 thousand in the public sector.
During the year, the number of job vacancies in the private sector increased by 4.2 thousand or by 35.8%, while in the public sector – by 0.7 thousand or by 9.5%, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
Starting from Q1 2021, the information of the State Revenue Service is used for the calculation of the number of occupied posts, resulting in an increase in the number of occupied jobs in 2021 compared to 2020 to 892.6 thousand, or by 0.4%. Until the end of 2020, the source of data on occupied jobs was the CSB sample survey.
Of all jobs, the highest share of job vacancies was in the major group of craft and related trades workers – 4.2%, in the major group of technicians and associate professionals – 3.9%, in the major group of skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers – 3.8% and in the major group of elementary occupations – 3.5%. The highest vacancy rates were in public administration – 5.9%, manufacturing – 3.7%, construction – 3.5%, administrative and support service activities – 3%, human health and social work activities – 2.9%, accommodation and food service activities and information and communication – 2.8%.
By region, Riga had the highest share of job vacancies in 2021 – 3.1% or 15.5 thousand, while Kurzeme and Latgale had the lowest – 1.9% (1.5 and 1.4 thousand respectively).
Latvia had the highest vacancy rate among the three Baltic States in 2021 at 2.7%. In Lithuania it was 1.8% and in Estonia – 1.7%.
In 2021, compared to 2020, the number of job vacancies increased fastest in Lithuania by 46%, in Latvia by 25.3% and in Estonia by 25%. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
