Employment
Economists: Labor shortage not so acute in Latvia anymore
Economists: Labor shortage not so acute in Latvia anymore
Over the past year and a half, the number of job advertisements and vacancies has dropped by almost half, and currently, staff shortages are not as big a problem as weak demand, said economist of Citadele Bank Mārtiņš Āboliņš commenting on the latest employment data February 23. 
Unemployment rate unchanged from January to February
Unemployment rate unchanged from January to February
Latest estimates from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) February 20 show that in January 2024 the actual unemployment rate in Latvia stod at 7.1 % – unchanged over the month. Over the year the unemployment rate increased by 0.7 percentage points.
Video outlines guest worker procedure for Latvia
Video outlines guest worker procedure for Latvia
A video published recently by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) provides a handy English-language guide to the procedure required when inviting a guest worker to Latvia.
Omniva Latvia denies rumors about mass firing
Omniva Latvia denies rumors about mass firing
Estonia's state-owned postal services and logistics company Omniva will eliminate 75 jobs in Estonia. The company's representation in Latvia indicated that no redundancies were planned in Latvia, LETA reports February 1.
Guest worker salary requirements changed
Guest worker salary requirements changed
Guest workers will in the future be paid the average wage in the sector they work in, rather than the average wage in the country, as has been the case so far, according to amendments backed by the government on Tuesday, January 30.
Under half of Ukrainians in Latvia are employed
Under half of Ukrainians in Latvia are employed
Almost 9,000 Ukrainian civilians in Latvia are currently employed here or have a company of their own. Although employment in this group increased last year, it is still less than half of the total number of working Ukrainians in Latvia, Latvian Radio reported on January 24.
Slight rise in unemployment at end of 2023
Slight rise in unemployment at end of 2023
Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) estimates released January 19 show that in December 2023 the actual unemployment rate in Latvia was 6.6 % and that it rose by 0.2 percentage points compared to November. Compared to December the year before, the actual unemployment rate has not changed.
Youth employment project set to continue
Youth employment project set to continue
At the end of the year, after nearly a decade, the project “Can and Do” (Proti un Dari) concluded, involving more than 5,000 young people from 38 Latvian municipalities. The project has been deemed useful and is set to continue for another six years, LSM's Madara Bērtiņa reports.
Little change in Latvia's unemployment rate
Little change in Latvia's unemployment rate
Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) estimates show that in November 2023 the actual unemployment rate in Latvia was 6.4 %, a rise of 0.1 percentage points over the month. Over the year the actual unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points.
Some rules relaxed for easier workforce entry into Latvia
Some rules relaxed for easier workforce entry into Latvia
Given the lack of labor force in sectors essential to the economy such as manufacturing and construction, the government on Tuesday, December 19, decided to facilitate the requirements for attracting labor from foreign countries, the Ministry of Economics said.
Russian language requirement might be banned from job ads
Russian language requirement might be banned from job ads
It is planned that Latvian employers will not be able to request mandatory knowledge of the Russian language, except for certain professions, as provided for by amendments to the Labor Law supported by the Saeima at first reading on Thursday, December 14.
Baltic states start project to attract foreign 'Digital Explorers'
Baltic states start project to attract foreign 'Digital Explorers'
In order to attract much-needed specialists in the field of information technology (IT), the Baltic States with the support of the European Union (EU) have launched a pilot project for cooperation with Nigeria, Kenya and Armenia, reports Latvian Radio from Brussels. 
Unemployment rate unchanged in Latvia for October
Unemployment rate unchanged in Latvia for October
Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) estimatespublished November 17 show that in October 2023 the actual unemployment rate in Latvia was 6.3 % and it has not changed over the month. Over the year the actual unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points.
Latgale region re-emphasizes lack of workforce
Latgale region re-emphasizes lack of workforce
Employers increasingly talk about the inability to attract the necessary employees as a development-delaying circumstance in Latgale. When it comes to guest workers, it is also necessary to assess from which countries to attract them so that it does not affect security, Latvian Radio reported November 15.
Businesses repeatedly urge politicians to ease entry for guest workers
Businesses repeatedly urge politicians to ease entry for guest workers
During the conference “Promotion of Human Capital Development” in the House of Saeima on Wednesday, November 1, views were repeatedly expressed that Latvia should relax the rules around guest worker registration to boost workforce availability, Latvian Television reported.
Latvia above EU average for high-tech women
Latvia above EU average for high-tech women
In 2022, there were 9.8 million people employed in high-technology sectors across the EU, corresponding to 4.9% of the EU’s total employment. The gender representation in this sector sees men accounting for just over two-thirds (67.2%) of the total. 
Minister commits to simplifying guest worker registration in Latvia
Minister commits to simplifying guest worker registration in Latvia
This year the Latvian labour market has been supplemented by approximately 14 thousand employees from third countries. Economics Minister Viktors Valainis (Union of Greens and Farmers) has pledged to organize the registration system for guest workers because often they register in neighboring countries and pay taxes there as well, Latvian Television reported October 29.
How Latgale's companies deal with lack of workforce
How Latgale's companies deal with lack of workforce
Although Latgale has the highest registered unemployment rate in Latvia at 10.7% at the end of September, Latgale companies also face a lack of working hands. LSM surveyed some of them on October 17 asking how they addressed the issue.
Men dominate jobs with ICT education in Latvia
Men dominate jobs with ICT education in Latvia
According to Eurostat figures published October 16, in 2022, there were 3.0 million people employed with an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) education in the EU, 6.7% more than in 2021 (2.8 million).
Latvia leads EU for fatal accidents at work
Latvia leads EU for fatal accidents at work
You are more likely to die at work in Latvia than anywhere else in the European Union, according to the latest data from Eurostat, for the year 2021, published October 5.
Employment opportunities for disabled people still a problem in Latvia
Employment opportunities for disabled people still a problem in Latvia
The lack of workforce has been felt in the Latvian labor market for a long time. According to operational data from the State Employment Agency (NVA), the unemployment rate registered on September 25 had dropped to 5.3% in the country and there were 47.5 thousand people unemployed. The NVA database also had 21.8 thousand vacancies and at least some of them could be filled by people with disabilities, Latvian Radio reported October 2.

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