In Q1, there were 28.2 thousand job vacancies in Latvia, up by 6.6 thousand vacancies or by 30.3% YoY, however the pre-pandemic level had not been reached yet (on average 29.1 thousand in 2019).
In private sector there were 17.8 thousand and in public sector 10.4 thousand job vacancies. Over the year the number of job vacancies in private sector grew by 3.5 thousand or by 24.6 % and in public sector by 3.1 thousand or by 41.4 %, according to data of Central Statistical Bureau.
Out of the total number of jobs in Latvia (both occupied and vacant), 3.1% positions were vacant, of which 3.6% in public sector and 2.9% in private sector.
Compared to Q1 2021, in Q1 the average number of occupied posts in the country dropped by 26.8 thousand or by 3%. In private sector it fell by 16.8 thousand or by 2.7% and in public sector by 10.1 thousand or by 3.5%.
In terms of major occupational groupings, the highest share of job vacancies was recorded among craft and related trades workers (5%), skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (4.9%), as well as technicians and associate professionals (4.1%).
In terms of economic activities, the largest share of job vacancies was recorded in public administration (7.4%), followed by mining and quarrying (7.1%), accommodation and food service activities (4.1%), manufacturing (3.8%), construction, transportation and storage, as well as information and communication (3.6%).
Regional breakdown of the data shows that in Q1 the largest share of job vacancies was registered in Riga (3.7% or 18.4 thousand vacancies), whereas the smallest in Vidzeme (1.7% and 1 thousand).
Among the three Baltic States, the greatest proportion of job vacancies in Q1 was recorded in Latvia – 3.1%, followed by Estonia with 2.1% and Lithuania with 2%.
In Q1, compared to the corresponding period of 2021, the sharpest rise in the job vacancy number – of 38.5% – was observed in Estonia, followed by 30.3% in Latvia and 28.3% in Lithuania. (BNN/Business World Magazine)