In the summer employment program organized by the State Employment Agency (NVA), the number of young people employed has increased compared to a year earlier.
“7,569 pupils are currently involved in the event, but this number will certainly increase by about a thousand or a little more because the August data has not yet been received,” NVA spokeswoman Vineta Leončika said.
She said that compared to last year, the number of employers involved in the program increased by nearly 100.
Leončika listed the most popular sectors for youth employment: "Traditionally it is wholesale and retail, public administration, especially municipalities, as well as providers of accommodation and catering services. These are the sectors that are most lacking workforce in the summer.
"The largest offer is for auxiliary worker, sales assistant, goods placement, teacher's assistant, waiter. These are the most demanding professions, and young people are pleased to have the opportunity to do such a job," said the NVA spokeswoman.
The largest demand from both employers and young people every year is in the region of Rīga, with a total of 3,000 young people currently participating in the program.
“Latgale region, however, has the lowest activity, and there are a little over a thousand young people involved this year. Kurzeme is in second place, Vidzeme in third, Zemgale in fourth, and Latgale in fifth place,” Leončika said.
Jelgava-based home interior shop SIA “MNL” has been employing young people for several years in the summer, and this summer was no exception. Six young people worked in the shop, performing assistant duties.
The company's chief executive, Inguna Rīgava, said that in the summer which is vacation time, young people's working hands are very useful. There are also shadows in the employment of young people, both financial and work-related.
"Because every child needs a job manager. This means doing everyday work and training young people and looking at what and how they do. It is a double burden for my employee anyway. There are many different pros and cons, but this time I'll say, the biggest plus is that we show young people to some extent how to make money," the MNL leader said.
Maxima Latvia has offered jobs to nearly 400 young people this year. Company spokeswoman Laura Bagātā said Maxima has been employing young people for 12 years and that vacancies are filling up very quickly. Although most young people are employed in shops in the region of Rīga, demand in the region exceeds supply.
“There are many who have already worked in previous years, there are even young people who have been working for a third year,” Bagātā said.
The representatives of the companies addressed also acknowledged that another positive factor in the employment of young people is the development of future employees, who are returning to the company on a permanent basis when they reach age.
