Latvia - Ukosefu wa ajira Kiwango cha

The unemployment rate in Latvia dropped to 6.4 percent in the second quarter of 2019 from 6.9 percent in the previous period. That was the lowest rate since the last quarter of 2007, as the number of unemployed decreased by 5.4 thousand from the previous quarter to 61.5 thousand while the number of employed increased by 2 thousand to 905.6 thousand. The labor force participation rate edged down to 69 percent from 69.2 percent in the previous period.

The unemployment rate in Latvia stood at 6.9 percent in the first quarter of 2019, the same as in the previous period and staying at the lowest figure since the second quarter of 2008 period. The number of unemployed decreased by 0.2 thousand from the previous quarter to 66.9 thousand while the number of employed fell by 6.2 thousand to 903.6 thousand. In the first quarter of 2019, Latvia still had the highest jobless rate among the Baltic States (4.7 percent in Estonia and 6.5 percent in Lithuania). A year ago, the unemployment rate was higher at 8.2 percent.

Latvia’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 from 8.1 percent in the corresponding quarter of 2017. It was the lowest jobless rate since the second quarter of 2008, as the number of unemployed decreased by 12 thousand from the previous year to 67.1 thousand and employment increased by 7.6 thousand to 909.8 thousand. Moreover, Latvian jobless rate continued to be the highest among the Baltic States (4.4 percent in Estonia and 6 percent in Lithuania). In 2018, the unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, below 8.7 percent in 2017.