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Labour · Europe & Central Asia · High income

Latvia: the labour market

Labour force is 948,428 (2025), 145th of 187 in the world and 42nd of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Participation rate is 60.5% (2025), 100th of 187 in the world and 22nd of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Women's participation is 55.2% (2025), 80th of 187 in the world and 21st of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.

Labour force948,4282025 · world 145/187 · region 42/49Participation rate60.5%2025 · world 100/187 · region 22/49Women's participation55.2%2025 · world 80/187 · region 21/49Employment rate56.5%2025 · world 104/187 · region 25/49
Labour force
Latvia
900,0001.0m1.1m1.2m1995200020052010201520202025Latvia948,428
Participation rate
LatviaEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
55%58%60%62%65%1995200020052010201520202025Latvia60.5%Europe & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
13 indicators

Labour: Latvia in detail

Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
Labour forceLabour force, total948,4282025145/18742/491.1m1.1m982,835−5.9%since 2015429m734m3.7bn
Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+60.5%2025100/18722/4956.2%58.8%61.6%+0.5 ppsince 201558.2%61.0%61.0%
Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+55.2%202580/18721/4949.0%53.7%55.8%+1.2 ppsince 201551.1%54.3%48.9%
Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO)56.5%2025104/18725/4948.2%47.4%56.6%+2.4 ppsince 201555.1%58.3%58.1%
UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO)6.6%202568/18718/4914.2%19.5%8.1%−3.3 ppsince 20155.4%4.4%4.8%
Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO)5.5%202599/18727/4913.4%16.3%7.1%−3.1 ppsince 20155.7%4.6%4.9%
Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO)12.9%202595/18730/4921.3%36.2%14.9%−3.4 ppsince 201514.0%11.5%13.4%
Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, %9.1%2025144/17029/4612.8%200217.8%8.5%−1.4 ppsince 201511.4%10.6%—
Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment86.3%202538/18721/4983.0%86.4%86.5%+0.2 ppsince 201583.3%88.9%53.6%
Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO)8.6%2025157/18733/4913.7%9.6%8.8%−0.8 ppsince 201512.9%8.0%42.4%
Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment6.7%2025124/18719/4914.9%8.6%7.4%−1.3 ppsince 20156.7%2.9%25.8%
Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment21.8%202566/18726/4926.8%23.1%22.8%−1.8 ppsince 201523.7%22.2%23.7%
Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment71.5%202555/18721/4958.3%68.3%69.8%+3.1 ppsince 201569.7%74.9%50.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.

Better than ten years ago

Worse than ten years ago

No rated indicator got worse over the decade.

Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).

neighbours

Latvia and its neighbours

Countries sharing a land border with Latvia. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.

IndicatorLatviaRussiaSwedenBelarusLithuaniaEstonia
Labour force948,428202572.8m20255.7m20254.8m20251.6m2025754,2062025
Participation rate60.5%202561.1%202564.6%202562.7%202562.9%202565.1%2025
Women's participation55.2%202554.5%202561.5%202556.8%202557.7%202561.0%2025
Employment rate56.5%202559.8%202559.0%202560.6%202558.7%202559.7%2025
Unemployment6.6%20252.1%20258.7%20253.4%20256.7%20258.3%2025
Female unemployment5.5%20252.2%20258.6%20252.7%20256.3%20258.0%2025
Youth unemployment12.9%20257.6%202524.3%20259.2%202513.8%202519.7%2025
Youth NEET rate9.1%20256.7%20255.0%202565.7%202412.5%202510.9%2025
Wage workers86.3%202593.7%202589.8%202593.2%202588.5%202587.9%2025
Russia: labourSweden: labourBelarus: labourLithuania: labourEstonia: labour
Labour in Europe & Central Asiaall 58 economies rankedLabour: high-income countries86 economies rankedLabour: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesLatvia: all key statisticscountry profile