Number of vacant jobs in Latvia has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels

In Q1 2022 there were 28.2 thousand job vacancies in Latvia, which is 6.6 thousand vacancies or 30.3 % more than in Q1 2021, however the pre-pandemic level has not 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 number of job vacancies in private sector grew by 3.5 thousand or 24.6 % and in public sector by 3.1 thousand or 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 2022 the average number of occupied posts in the country dropped by 26.8 thousand or 3.0 %. In private sector it fell by 16.8 thousand or 2.7 % and in public sector by 10.1 thousand or 3.5 %.

In terms of major occupational groupings, the highest share of job vacancies was recorded among craft and related trades workers (5.0 %),

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 2022 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 1.0 thousand).
Among the three Baltic states, the greatest proportion of job vacancies in Q1 2022 was recorded in Latvia – 3.1 %, followed by Estonia with 2.1 % and Lithuania with 2.0 %.
In Q1 2022, 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.